Method and system for multi-protocol transmissions

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for multi-protocol transmissions in shared spectrum are disclosed where an OFDM transmitter is configured to generate transmissions associated with one OFDM technology or protocol using subcarriers of another OFDM technology. Generally, multi-protocol transmissions as described herein may be performed sequentially (e.g. in a time division multiplexing fashion) or concurrently (e.g. during the same or an overlapping time interval). For concurrent transmissions, an OFDM transmitter may be configured to map or assign the different OFDM signals to different subsets of the available OFDM subcarriers such that the data contained therein can be transmitted at the same or during an overlapping time interval. In one application, an LTE transmitter is configured to use different subsets of the LTE subcarriers for concurrent LTE and 802.11 transmissions that can respectively be decoded by LTE and 802.11 receivers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national phase filing ofInternational Application No. PCT/IB2016/054401, filed Jul. 22, 2016,which claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No.62/365,658, filed Jul. 22, 2016, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems and inparticular a method and system for multi-protocol transmissions inwireless communication networks.

BACKGROUND

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) has become a keyencoding method used by many communications technologies ranging fromwireline to wireless technologies. In fact, OFDM use is pervasive, beingemployed by many technologies including, but not limited to, wiredcommunications, such as Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL), Asymmetric DSL(ADSL) and Very-high-bit-rate DSL (VDSL) broadband access technologyover Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) copper wiring, Digital VideoBroadcasting (DVB), Power Line Communications (PLC), ITU-T G.hn for homewiring LANs, telephone modems, DOCSIS—Data Over Cable System InterfaceSpecification for broadband delivery, MoCA—Multimedia Over Coax Alliancehome networking, and wireless communications including IEEE 802.11 (e.g.Wi-Fi), HIPERLAN, Digital TV, Personal Area Networks (PAN), and UltraWideband Networks (UWB).

OFDM and its multiple access variant OFDMA continue to find increasingapplications, for example in 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project(3GPP)-based wireless networks such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) andEvolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial RadioAccess (E-UTRA) networks, but also in IEEE-based networks such as MobileBroadband Wireless Access (MBWA, also referred to as IEEE 802.20). NextGeneration mobile networks are planning to use OFDM as the platform forthis new and exciting product evolution, and even the Wireless GigabitAlliance (WiGig) plans to use OFDM in the 60 GHz frequency band toenable conference room cell sizes to achieve 100 Gigabits per second(Gbps) data rates.

Although these technologies are all based on OFDM, they have significantdifferences in their technology implementations. OFDM is a digitalmodulation technique that uses frequency division multiplexing to createmultiple orthogonal sub-carriers to carry parallel data streams.Sub-carriers are modulated using conventional modulation schemes such asBinary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation(QAM) with defined symbol rates enabling multiple parallel data streamsto be carried.

The detailed implementations for these various technologies are allquite different, largely driven by channel limitations or restrictions,and desired operational features. For example, 802.11a Wi-Fi employsshort 3.2 microsecond (μs) symbols (with 0.4 or 0.8 μs for the cyclicprefix), and 52 carriers spaced at 312.5 kHz to create a high speed datachannel capable of withstanding the low dispersion experienced in shortreach indoor channels which Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) typically address,while LTE typically employs longer 66.7 μs symbols (or 71.4 μs with thecyclic prefix) with 15 kHz spaced subcarriers to address significantinter-symbol interference issues typical of long reach outdoor cellularchannels.

Thus, implementations may differ by symbol time and sub-carrier spacing,but also by many other physical layer parameters including the number ofsub-carriers, channel spacing, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size, numberand operation of pilot tones, convolutional codes employed, ForwardError Correction (FEC) design, sub-carrier modulation schemes,time-interleaving, equalizer operation, and Multiple-InputMultiple-Output (MIMO) operation to name a few. Moreover, with theMedium Access Control (MAC) layer defining how the OFDM based physicalmedium is used by higher layer applications, OFDM designs are inherentlycomplex and specific to a particular OFDM technology. As a result, theimplementation of interworking functions with other OFDM basedtechnologies has proven to be very difficult.

Nevertheless, with the explosion of wireless technologies in unlicensedspectrum such as the Unlicensed National Information Interchange (U-NII)bands managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in theUnited States, there is a desire to see upcoming technologies such asLTE work together to share this spectrum fairly with incumbents such as802.11 (e.g. Wi-Fi) the dominant technology, and provide a positive enduser experience. 3GPP and some to come 5G licensed networks will shortlybegin trials to offer services in unlicensed bands. License AssistedAccess for Long Term Evolution (LAA-LTE or LAA), as the first example,has recently demonstrated cabled operation at Mobile World Congress inMarch of 2015 using the 5 GHz band. Product rollouts are planned in 2016and 2017. However, concerns over interoperability of these differenttechnologies have been raised, driven by expectations of wide scaledeployment of LTE radios into the unlicensed bands.

Since the FCC first made available spectrum in the 5 GHz band for U-NIIoperation in 1997, an etiquette protocol for medium access was developedfor Wi-Fi systems which can be generalized into three rules:

-   -   1. Listen Before Talk (LBT)—Do not use the channel if Radio        Frequency (RF) energy above a threshold (e.g. −62 dBm) is        detected,    -   2. Carrier Sense—Do not use the channel if a Wi-Fi preamble (or        related pilot tones) is detected, and    -   3. Virtual Carrier Sense—Do not use the channel while a channel        busy timer (e.g. the Network Allocation Vector (NAV)) is        counting down to zero.

In Wi-Fi systems, the Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) function employsthese simple etiquette rules to ensure that many Wi-Fi devices can sharethe same unlicensed channel fairly, and avoid transmission collisionswhich may have deleterious effects to both the interferer andinterferee.

With the introduction of new 3GPP-based cellular technologies such asLTE and soon to be 5G into the unlicensed bands, an expanded etiquettewill be required. Wi-Fi, as the main incumbent technology, has a definedetiquette. However, Wi-Fi does not address the complexities andrequirements of 3GPP systems. Although they both use OFDM and bothsupport a number of common features at the physical layer, 3GPP andWi-Fi are fundamentally different.

One of the most fundamental differences is synchronization. Wi-Fioperates asynchronously by applying the etiquette rules andsending/receiving packets when the medium is free. In contrast, 3GPPoperates synchronously and employs advanced scheduling algorithms tomaximize channel utilization, and therefore is not burdened withetiquette rules. As a result, 3GPP is able to carry higher traffic loadsefficiently i.e. in a way that maximizes the use of the valuablefrequency channel resources.

Because of this and other notable differences in OFDM implementation,3GPP-based technologies are not currently designed to support a sharingetiquette, such as that which Wi-Fi supports.

Different possible solutions have been proposed so far claiming to havethe potential for improving fair sharing. One such proposal includesimplementing a power-based LBT detect threshold. With this proposal, theLTE radio would monitor energy on the channel and consider it free ifthe received signal strength indication (e.g. RSSI) is lower than thatthreshold. However, this proposal does not address the variability ofcell sizes due to unlicensed band interference. Also, in someimplementations, the threshold is fairly large (−62 dBm) and limits thecell size. Depending on the channel conditions, there is no guaranteethat the LTE radio will detect a transmitted signal above the thresholdand this ultimately may result in a higher collision count and lowerthroughput.

Other proposals contemplate using a Wi-Fi receiver in the LTE radio tomonitor and detect Wi-Fi pilot tones and/or transport LTE data usingWi-Fi packets. However, these proposals would involve significanthardware and software development and would not be backward compatibleto existing LTE radios currently deployed. Moreover, the proposalscombine transceivers which are fundamentally different to try and createa coordinated design. In doing so, it mixes the performance andregulatory aspects of two separate and independent radio transceivers,making the solution extremely complex to design, verify, and havecertified since all of the key design parameters such as power control,AGC, power spectral density, PAR reduction techniques, and PAlinearization techniques such as digital pre-distortion are nowoperating on two separate PHY devices.

Accordingly, to address some or all of the drawbacks noted above, thereis a need for improved methods and systems to facilitate co-existence inshared spectrum.

SUMMARY

Methods and systems for multi-protocol transmissions in shared spectrumare disclosed. According to principles described herein, an OFDMtransmitter is configured to generate transmissions associated with oneOFDM technology or protocol using subcarriers of another OFDMtechnology.

Generally, multi-protocol transmissions as described herein may beperformed sequentially (e.g. in a time division multiplexing fashion) orconcurrently (e.g. during the same or an overlapping time interval). Forconcurrent transmissions, an OFDM transmitter may be configured to mapor assign the different OFDM signals to different subsets of theavailable OFDM subcarriers such that the data contained therein can betransmitted at the same or during an overlapping time.

In one application, an LTE transmitter may be configured to assigndifferent subsets of the LTE subcarriers for simultaneous or concurrentLTE and 802.11 transmissions. In that example, the LTE transmitter usesa first subset of LTE subcarriers to generate and transmit an LTE signalthat can be understood by LTE receivers, for example, a DiscoveryReference Signal (DRS) for License Assisted Access for Long TermEvolution (LAA-LTE or LAA). Concurrently, the LTE transmitter uses asecond, different subset of LTE subcarriers to generate and transmit an802.11 (e.g. Wi-Fi) signal that can be understood by Wi-Fi receivers,for example, to reserve the channel for a certain duration, to indicatea transmission time associated with an on-going and/or upcoming LTEtransmission or to create a carrier sense indication, for example, tocause Wi-Fi receivers and other radio technologies to consider thechannel as busy.

The embodiments described are primarily in relation to the generationand transmission of Wi-Fi signals concurrently with LTE signals.However, the same approach is equally applicable to other OFDMtechnologies such as 802.15 technologies (e.g. ZigBee). Generally, theprinciples described herein are applicable to any implementation wheresubcarriers or symbol information from one OFDM technology are used totransmit subcarrier or symbol information using subcarriers of anotherOFDM technology. In some embodiments, the principles described hereinare applicable to generate any possible signal to the extent allowed bythe spectral bandwidth available to the OFDM transmitter. In addition,the principles are equally applicable to other non-OFDM technologies orto generate non-OFDM signals. For example, the principles describedherein may be employed to generate IEEE 802.11b CCK signals, usingsubcarriers or symbol information from one OFDM technology. Theprinciples described within may even be applied to signal generation forapplications yet undetermined, a possible example being in-building“radar”, using specialized signals to detect and characterizein-building objects for the purpose of high precision location tracking.

In some implementations, the principles described herein address thespecifics of Wi-Fi systems, and how an LTE transmitter can use LTE OFDMsubcarriers to transmit Wi-Fi information to cause a Wi-Fi receiver todetermine or indicate the channel as busy. Embodiments describe how aWi-Fi signal (e.g. a Wi-Fi preamble) may be transmitted using LTE OFDMsubcarriers so that the channel may be considered as busy, both in apreamble type mode (e.g. stand-alone transmission of Wi-Fi preamble orheader information) but also as part of a regular LTE transmissionwhereby LTE Resource Blocks, symbols and/or a subset of the LTEsubcarriers can be allocated to represent Wi-Fi pilot tones or symbolinformation

In other implementations, the principles described herein extend thediscussion to consider OFDM power level changes which would enable 3GPPLTE systems to present a relatively constant carrier sense to Wi-Fisystems, while carrying user traffic so as to ensure that the LTE datatransmitted over an unlicensed band or channel is not inadvertentlyinterfered with by a Wi-Fi transmitter.

In one broad aspect, there is provided a method for an OFDM transmitterconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a firstsymbol duration. The method includes generating a first OFDM signalcontaining data associated with a first OFDM communication protocol,generating a second OFDM signal containing data associated with a secondOFDM communication protocol, and transmitting, during one or more firstsymbol durations, the first OFDM signal using a first subset ofsubcarriers from the first plurality of subcarriers, and the second OFDMsignal using a second subset of subcarriers from the first plurality ofsubcarriers, different from the first subset.

In one implementation, the first and second OFDM signals are generatedin one of a time domain and a frequency domain, based on respectivefirst and second predetermined OFDM signals containing data associatedwith the first and second OFDM communication protocols. In anotherimplementation, generating the first OFDM signal includes mapping thefirst predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in at least the firstsubset and generating the second OFDM signal includes mapping the secondpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in at least the second subset.In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signal isdefined to use only the first subset of subcarriers, and generating thefirst OFDM signal includes mapping the first predetermined OFDM signalto subcarriers in the first subset.

In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signal isdefined to use subcarriers in the first and second subsets, andgenerating the first OFDM signal includes mapping the firstpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in the first subset but not inthe second subset. In yet another implementation, the firstpredetermined OFDM signal is defined to use subcarriers in the first andsecond subsets, and generating the first OFDM signal includes mappingthe first predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in the first subsetand to subcarriers in the second subset such that the first OFDM signalhas a power level over the first subset of subcarriers that is higherthat a power level over the second subset of subcarriers.

In yet another implementation, the second predetermined OFDM signalcontains data associated with the second OFDM communication protocol anddefined to use a second plurality of subcarriers, different from thefirst plurality of subcarriers, the second plurality of subcarriershaving a second subcarrier frequency spacing different than the firstsubcarrier frequency spacing. In yet another implementation, each of thefirst and second subsets of subcarriers includes at least one subcarrieroverlapping in frequency with a subcarrier of the second plurality ofsubcarriers, and wherein generating the second OFDM signal comprisesmapping the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in thesecond subset but not in the first subset.

In yet another implementation, generating the second OFDM signalincludes mapping the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers inthe first subset and to subcarriers in the second subset such that thesecond OFDM signal has a power level over the first subset ofsubcarriers that is lower than a power level over the second subset ofsubcarriers. In yet another implementation, only one of the first andsecond subsets includes at least one subcarrier overlapping in frequencywith a subcarrier of the second plurality of subcarriers. In yet anotherimplementation, generating the second OFDM signal further includesgenerating the second predetermined OFDM signal, and interpolating thesecond predetermined OFDM signal generated using the first plurality ofsubcarriers to produce an interpolated OFDM signal that can be mapped tosubcarriers in the second subset.

In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signalcomprises a first set of modulation values for at least the first subsetof subcarriers, the first set of modulation values corresponding to dataassociated with the first OFDM communication protocol, and wherein thesecond predetermined OFDM signal comprises a second set of modulationvalues for at least the second subset of subcarriers, the second set ofmodulation values corresponding to data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol.

In yet another implementation, subcarriers in one of the first andsecond subsets of subcarriers are configured to be contiguous orinterleaved with subcarriers in the other of the first and secondsubsets of subcarriers. In yet another implementation, the second OFDMsignal contains control data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol, the control data being indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with at least one of the first and secondOFDM signals. In yet another implementation, the control data comprisesany combination of Short Training Field (STF) data, Long Training Field(LTF) data, Signal Field (SIG) data. In yet another implementation, thesecond OFDM signal contains packet data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol, the packet data being indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with at least one of first and the secondOFDM signals. In yet another implementation, the packet data comprises aClear To Send (CTS) frame having a timer value indicative of atransmission end time associated with the at least one of the first andthe second OFDM signals.

In another broad aspect, there is provided an OFDM transmitterconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a firstsymbol duration. The OFDM transmitter includes circuitry containinginstructions which, when executed, cause the transmitter to perform anyof the method implementations described above.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computerreadable memory configured to store executable instructions for an OFDMtransmitter configured for OFDM signal transmissions using a firstplurality of subcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacingdefining a first symbol duration. The executable instructions whenexecuted by a processor cause the OFDM transmitter to perform any of themethod implementations described above.

Advantageously, some implementations of the present principles do notrequire a separate Wi-Fi transmitter as required in existingco-existence proposals. In other implementations, the Wi-Fi informationmay be generated using hardware configured for LTE transmissions andtherefore help ensure the Wi-Fi transmissions meet requirements imposedon LTE systems such as, for example, power spectral density, and maximumtransmission power. In other implementations, the interference-free cellsize is increased by at least 20 dB, for example from −62 dBm (freechannel threshold) to over −82 dBm which is the sensitivity levelconsidered standard for Wi-Fi systems using 6 Mbps Binary Phase ShiftKeying (BPSK). In yet other embodiments, the cell size is increased by a10-fold factor due to use of a lower detection threshold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likereference designators refer to like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) RadioAccess Network (RAN) and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) configuredto share unlicensed spectrum resources, in accordance with theprinciples described herein;

FIGS. 2A-B illustrate an example of LTE subcarriers and Wi-Fisubcarriers used in the LTE RAN and WLANs of FIG. 1, in accordance withthe principles described herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a timing diagram showing an example of Wi-Fi symbolstransmitted by an LTE node in the LTE RAN of FIG. 1, in accordance withthe principles described herein;

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate timing diagram examples of Wi-Fi transmissions byan LTE node in the LTE RAN of FIG. 1 for channel reservation in anunlicensed band in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a format example for the CTS-To-Self packet of FIG.4A in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIGS. 6A-B illustrate format examples for the Wi-Fi header transmissionshown in FIG. 4B in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIGS. 7A-B illustrate the partitioning of OFDM subcarriers into twosubsets for generating and/or transmitting OFDM signals of differenttypes in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate block diagram examples of an OFDM transmitterconfigured in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram example for the signal generator andtime-domain interpolator of the OFDM transmitter shown in FIG. 8A,configured in accordance with the principles described herein;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram example for the frequency-domaininterpolator of the OFDM transmitter shown in FIG. 8B, configured inaccordance with the principles described herein;

FIGS. 11A-B show a flow chart of example methods for the OFDMtransmitters of FIGS. 8A-B in accordance with the principles describedherein;

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of another example method for the OFDMtransmitters of FIGS. 8A-B in accordance with the principles describedherein;

FIGS. 13A-B show a block diagram of exemplary embodiments of OFDMtransmitting and receiving nodes configured in accordance withprinciples described herein, and

FIGS. 14A-B show a block diagram of other exemplary embodiments of OFDMtransmitting and receiving nodes configured in accordance with theprinciples described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems formulti-protocol transmissions in shared spectrum, e.g. unlicensed bandsor band normally used for unlicensed access. The principles describedherein are applicable to generating subcarriers or symbol informationassociated with one OFDM technology using another OFDM technology.

In some implementations, an OFDM transmitter uses this approach to mapor assign different subsets of the available OFDM subcarriers todifferent OFDM signals (signals associated with different OFDMprotocols) in a way that the data contained in the signals can betransmitted at the same or during an overlapping time interval. This maybe useful in implementations where different OFDM signals (e.g. an LTEDiscovery Reference Signal (DRS) and an 802.11 signal) need to be sentto different OFDM receivers (e.g. LTE and Wi-Fi receivers) at the sametime. This may also be useful in implementations where the nature of theOFDM signals and/or channel over which the signals are transmitted issuch that the OFDM signals can be transmitted using some but not all ofthe available OFDM subcarriers and still be recovered at a suitableSignal-to-Noise (SNR) ratio by the intended OFDM receiver.

The description that follows describes how nodes in a first or base OFDMnetwork (e.g. a License Assisted Access (LAA)-Long Term Evolution (LTE)Radio Access Network (RAN)) configured to transmit subcarrier and/orsymbol information of a first OFDM type can also transmit subcarrierand/or symbol information of a second OFDM type (either concurrently orat different times) which can be detected by wireless devices in one ormore second OFDM network(s) such as, a Wireless (e.g. Wi-Fi) Local AreaNetwork (WLAN). However, those having ordinary skill in the relevant artwill readily appreciate that the principles described herein may equallyapply to other types of networks.

For example, the first OFDM network may also include other 3^(rd)Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks (e.g. Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A)), LTE-Unlicensed(LTE-U), 4^(th) Generation (4G), 5^(th) Generation (5G) or other futuregenerations of a 3GPP communication network infrastructure. Moregenerally, the first OFDM network may include any current or futurewireless network infrastructure configured to generate subcarriers orsymbol information associated with a different OFDM technology, with orwithout a licensed anchor band (so called “standalone” or single carrieraccess network).

Similarly, the second OFDM network(s) described herein primarily asWLANs (e.g. Wi-Fi) may also include other types of 802 networks such asa Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN) or a Wireless Metropolitan AreaNetworks (WMAN). However, the second OFDM network(s) may also includewireless networks that use a different OFDM technology such as 802.15networks (e.g. ZigBee). More generally, the second wireless network(s)may include any OFDM network that uses a subcarrier spacing equal to orgreater than the subcarrier spacing used in the first OFDM network. Thisis intended to include OFDM networks which are variations of the OFDMtechnology used in the first OFDM network but with a greater subcarrierspacing (e.g. a second LTE network with a subcarrier spacing greaterthan the carrier spacing of a first LTE network). For clarity and asused herein, the term WLAN or Wi-Fi is used to cover all of thesepossibilities for the second OFDM network(s).

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown one example of an LAA-LTE RAN 10(an example of the first OFDM network) in which an access node 60 isconfigured to transmit subcarrier and/or symbol information which can bedetected by wireless devices 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 operating in WLANs 20,30 (examples of a second OFDM network). As is conventional for LAAoperation, the unlicensed band is used to operate a (secondary) carrierto add capacity to a (primary) carrier operating in licensed spectrum(e.g. an LTE carrier). Operation of the primary licensed carrier may beunder the control of the access node 60 or another node in the LAA-LTERAN 10.

The access node 60 is an eNodeB but in other implementations, the accessnode 60 may be a Node B (NB), evolved Node B (eNB), base station, basestation controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), relay, donornode controlling relay, base transceiver station (BTS), transmissionpoint, transmission node, remote RF unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH),a node in a distributed antenna system (DAS), or a memory managementunit (MMU). Generally, the access node 60 is configured to controltransmissions to or from UEs in the LTE RAN 10 but other nodes in theLTE RAN 10, a Core Network (CN) 70 or in a network outside of a RAN/CNinfrastructure (e.g. an Internet Protocol (IP) node in an IP network)may be configured for that purpose. In other implementations, a wirelessdevice or UE (for example, a relay node UE) may be configured totransmit subcarrier and/or symbol information which can be detected bydevices that use a different OFDM technology (e.g. devices in the WLANs20, 30). It is to be understood that the functionality described hereinin relation to nodes that are configured to transmit such subcarrier orsymbol information in a wireless network may also equally apply towireless devices (e.g. UEs) configured as such.

In FIG. 1, the access node 60 provides wireless devices within itscoverage (e.g. devices 40, 50) with access to network services in onemore core networks 70, in this example, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC)network which includes a Mobility Management Entity 74 and a Packet DataNetwork (PDN) Gateway (PGW) 72. Each wireless device 40, 50 isconfigured for wireless communication in the LAA-LTE RAN 10 (e.g. as aUser Equipment (UE) and may be of any type, including for example awireless terminal (also known as a mobile station, a mobile phone(“cellular” phone), a desktop, laptop, netbook, and/or tablet computer,a laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), or aportable device such as an e-book reader, watch, digital music and/orvideo player, camera, game controller and/or device but also may be acomputing-like device such as a heart monitoring implant, biochiptransponder, automobile, sensor, modem, thermostat, and/or other home orcar appliance generally referred to as an Internet of Things (IoT)device, a machine type communication (MTC) device (also known as amachine-to-machine (M2M) or device-to-device (D2D) device.

In the example of FIG. 1, the LAA-LTE RAN 10 shares the unlicensed bandwith WLANs 20, 30 for transmissions involving at least some of thewireless devices in its coverage (e.g. wireless device 50). Generally,the WLANs 20, 30 may each include any number of wireless devicescommunicating directly or via an Access Point (AP) with other devices inthe same or different networks. In the example of FIG. 1, WLAN 20 isshown to include WLAN devices 52, 54, AP 58 as well as wireless device50 while WLAN 30 includes WLAN devices 54 and 56. Other networkconfigurations for WLANs 20, 30 or other types of networks or deviceswhich may share unlicensed spectrum resources with device 50 in theLAA-LTE RAN 10 are possible.

As is conventional, devices 50, 52, 54 and AP 58 in WLAN 20 and devices54, 56 in WLAN 30 (herein generically referred to as WLAN or Wi-Fidevices) are configured to share a band of spectrum using some form ofmedia access method and/or transmissions based on contention. As iswell-known, there are many examples of such contention-based approaches.Examples include Listen-Before-Talk (LBT), Carrier Sense Multiple Access(CSMA)—with Collision Detection (CSMA-CD), CSMA with Collision Avoidance(CSMA-CA), etc. Using a contention-based method, a WLAN device 50, 52,54, 56, 58 will try to determine whether another transmission is inprogress in the channel or band used. This determination may be based onthe detection of a carrier wave, signal or energy in the channel ofinterest. If a carrier or energy is detected in the channel of interest(in another fully or partially overlapping channel), the WLAN device 50,52, 54, waits for the transmission in progress to finish beforeinitiating its own transmission.

In the example of FIG. 1, the LAA-LTE RAN 10 may include wirelessdevices 40 in a location outside the coverage of WLANs 20, 30, and withwhich spectrum resources are not shared. As a result, the wirelessdevices 40, 50 described in the embodiments herein may (but do not needto) be configured for operation on multiple different wireless networks.In the example of FIG. 1, wireless device 50 is configured as adual-mode device (i.e. configured as a UE for operation in the LAA-LTERAN 10 as well as a WLAN device for operation in WLANs 20, 30) whilewireless device 40 is configured as a UE for operation in the LAA-LTERAN 10 only. For clarify, the principles of the present disclosure applywhether or not wireless devices 40, 50 in the LAA-LTE RAN 10 areconfigured as single-mode or multi-mode devices.

3GPP systems such as the LAA-LTE RAN 10 of FIG. 1 typically operateoutdoors, usually from high powered macros cell sites designed to coverranges up to several kilometers. The resulting coherence bandwidth ofthe channel is very small as the delay spread (i.e. the impulse responseof the channel) can be quite large due to distant reflections frombuilding and other environmental factors. To address this issue, 3GPPsystems break the available bandwidth into many narrower sub-carriers orsub-channels and transmit the data in parallel streams. FIG. 2A shows atime-frequency diagram 80 of a set of LTE sub-channels (only a subsetshown) used in a channel of the LTE RAN 10 of FIG. 1. The LTEsub-channels are 15 KHz wide and correspond to a set of LTE sub-carriersL-SC_(1-M), typically 1200 (M=1200) for a 20 MHz channel. In thatexample, each LTE subcarrier L-SC_(1-M) is modulated using varyinglevels of QAM modulation, e.g. QPSK, QAM, 64QAM or possibly higherorders depending on signal quality. Each OFDM symbol 82 is therefore alinear combination of the instantaneous signals on each of thesub-carriers L-SC_(1-M) in the channel. Because data is transmitted inparallel rather than serially, LTE symbols 82 are generally much longerthan symbols on single carrier systems of equivalent data rate. In theexample of FIG. 2A, each LTE symbol 82 is 66.7 microseconds (μs) longand is preceded by a 4.7 μs cyclic prefix (CP) (not shown), which isused to reduce Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI). The total symbol length(including the CP) is 71.4 μs.

In contrast, Wi-Fi systems operate (mostly) indoors, usually from lowpower APs designed to cover ranges up to 50 or 100 meters. The resultingcoherence bandwidth of the channel is large, as the delay spread (e.g.the impulse response of the channel) is usually very short, typicallyless than 500 nanoseconds (ns). As a result, Wi-Fi systems use wider312.5 KHz sub-channels. FIG. 2B shows a time-frequency diagram 90 of aset of Wi-Fi sub-channels (only a subset shown) used in a channel of theWLANs 20, 30 of FIG. 1. The Wi-Fi sub-channels correspond to a set ofWi-Fi sub-carriers W-SC_(1-N), typically 52 (N=52) in a 20 MHz channel,which are spaced apart by 312.5 kHz. Because of the larger sub-channelspacing, Wi-Fi symbols 84 are generally much shorter than LTE symbols82. In the example of FIG. 2A, each Wi-Fi symbol 82 is 3.2 μs long andis preceded by a 0.8 μs cyclic prefix (CP) (not shown) for a totalduration of 4 μs.

Understanding the differences in, for example the number of carriers,the carrier spacing and the symbol time duration, it is possible for onebase OFDM system (denoted as OFDM1) configured to transmit informationusing its defined set of (base) subcarriers to also be configured toencode subcarrier or symbol information of another OFDM system (denotedas OFDM2) in a way that such information can be decoded by receiversconfigured in accordance with that other system. In someimplementations, the subcarrier spacing Δf₁, symbol duration T₁=k₁/Δf₁and system bandwidth BW₁ of the OFDM1 system and those of the OFDM2system (Δf₂, T₂=k₂/Δf₂, and BW₂) are such that:Δf ₁ <Δf ₂  (1)T ₁ >T ₂  (2)BW₁=(M*Δf ₁)≥BW₂=(N*Δf ₂)  (3)where

k₁ and k₂ are integer values, which are typically set to 1,

M is the number of OFDM1 subcarriers, and

N is the number of OFDM2 subcarriers.

In other implementations, an OFDM1 transmitter is configured to generateand transmit subcarrier and/or symbol information of any OFDM2 systemthat uses a subcarrier spacing larger (or substantially larger, e.g. bya factor of 10 or 20) than the OFDM1 subcarrier spacing. Stated anotherway, the OFDM1 transmitter is configured to generate and transmitsubcarrier and/or symbol information of any OFDM2 system that uses asymbol duration smaller (or substantially smaller, e.g. by a factor of10 or 20) than the OFDM1 symbol duration. In typical LTE and Wi-Fisystems for example, the LTE subcarrier spacing is smaller than theWi-Fi subcarrier spacing (which means the Wi-Fi symbol duration issmaller than the LTE symbol duration). In yet other implementations, theOFDM1 transmitter is configured to generate and transmit subcarrierand/or symbol information of any OFDM2 system that has a systembandwidth that is greater or equal to the OFDM1 system bandwidth.However, in other implementations, this may not be necessary. Forexample, while LTE can operate at multiple different system bandwidths(e.g. 5, 10, 15, 20 MHz) some of which may be smaller than the Wi-Fisystem bandwidth, an LTE transmitter can generally be configured toutilize the available spectrum in a way that is sufficient for Wi-Fitransmissions (see for example the implementations described below inrelation to FIGS. 7A-B).

Generally, therefore, it is possible for an LTE transmitter to encodeand transmit Wi-Fi information in a way that it can be recovered by aWi-Fi receiver. In some implementations, in addition to being configuredto generate and transmit Wi-Fi and LTE symbol information, the LTEtransmitter may also be configured to generate subcarrier and/or symbolinformation of yet other OFDM technologies.

In other implementations, an LTE transmitter (e.g. the access node 60 ofFIG. 1) can use LTE subcarriers L-SC_(1-M) to generate 802.11 (e.g.Wi-Fi) subcarrier or symbol information that can be understood by Wi-Fireceivers, for example to reserve the channel for a certain duration, toindicate a transmission time associated with an on-going and/or upcomingsymbol transmission or to create a carrier sense indication, forexample, to cause Wi-Fi receivers and other radio technologies toconsider the channel as busy. The embodiments described below areprimarily in relation to the generation of Wi-Fi subcarriers/symbolinformation in an LTE transmitter. However, it is understood that thesame approach is equally applicable to other OFDM technologies such as802.15 technologies (e.g. ZigBee). Generally, the principles describedherein are applicable to generating subcarriers or symbol informationfrom one OFDM technology using another OFDM technology.

FIG. 3 illustrates a timing diagram 100 showing an example of a symboltransmission by an LTE transmitting node (e.g. the access node 60 in theLTE RAN 10 of FIG. 1), in accordance with the principles describedherein. In this example, the access node 60 is configured to transmitWi-Fi information, for example Wi-Fi header and/or packet data toindicate its current use of a (unlicensed) channel shared with devicesin the WLANs 20, 30 and/or to reserve the channel for a certain amountof time (further details below). The Wi-Fi information is modulated bythe access node 60 in the form of a set of one or more Wi-Fi symbols110, 112, 114 (only three shown) and transmitted during the duration ofone LTE symbol 102 (e.g. 66.7 μs). In order to be properly decoded bydevices in WLANs 20, 30, each Wi-Fi symbol 110, 112, 114 includes arespective CP 110 a, 112 a, 114 a (e.g. 0.8 μs) and has a symbolduration (e.g. 3.2 μs) that conforms to the duration expected by devicesin the WLANs 20, 30. In the example of FIG. 3, the number of Wi-Fisymbols 110, 112, 114 is designed to fit into one LTE symbol duration102 (e.g. after an LTE symbol preamble or CP 102 a) but in otherimplementations, the number of Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 issubstantially less than one LTE symbol duration 102. In yet otherimplementations, the access node 60 uses up to sixteen Wi-Fi symbols110, 112, 114 in a 66.7 μs LTE symbol time duration. In yet otherimplementations, the access node 60 uses some of the Wi-Fi symbols 110,112, 114 for Wi-Fi header data and the rest for Wi-Fi packet or framedata, the size of which depends on the Wi-Fi modulation rate used. Inyet other implementations, the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 are organizedin multiple sets to span over multiple LTE symbol durations where eachset is configured to fit in the duration of one LTE symbol. In yet otherimplementations, the first Wi-Fi symbol set is preceded by an LTE CP(e.g. CP 102 a), but subsequent Wi-Fi symbol sets are transmittedwithout an LTE CP to ensure proper recovery by Wi-Fi receivers. TheWi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 shown in FIG. 3 represent one particulartype of Wi-Fi symbols that can be used (e.g. for Wi-Fi datatransmissions). However, it is important to note that depending on theimplementation and the type of Wi-Fi transmission desired, theprinciples described herein also equally apply to other types of Wi-Fisymbols. For example, short and long Wi-Fi symbols such as those definedfor Short Training Fields (STFs) and Long Training Fields (LTFs) couldbe used. Further, the Wi-Fi symbols may or may not be transmitted with aCP and may have time duration that is different from the time durationof the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 (e.g. other 3.2 μs). Otherpossibilities exist for the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114.

In some implementations, the Wi-Fi information contained in the Wi-Fisymbols 110, 112, 114 is to reserve the channel for the LTEtransmission. In those implementations, the Wi-Fi information may beindicative of a transmission time, length, type associated with and/or achannel reservation time necessary for transmitting the Wi-Fi symbols110, 112, 114, the LTE symbols 104 or a combination of both.

In some implementations, the access node 60 generates Wi-Fi symbols 110,112, 114 to contain a Wi-Fi header or a Clear-To Send (CTS) packet suchas a “CTS-to-Self” packet to reserve the channel with a “virtual carriersense”, enabling devices in the WLANs 20, 30 to receive thisheader/packet information down to −82 dBm or lower and refrain fromtransmitting until after the LTE transmission (e.g. the LTE symbols 104)has been sent. Moreover, in some implementations, by generating andtransmitting both the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 and the LTEtransmission 104, the access node 60 can apply the same (LTE) processingfunctions, such as filtering, PAR, digital pre-distortion, PSDmanagement, RMS power control, etc., to the generation and transmissionof both the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114 and the LTE transmission 104which follows.

It is important to note that different Wi-Fi header and/or packet datamay be used for different applications. Also, depending on theapplication, the Wi-Fi header and/or packet data transmission does notnecessarily need to be preceded by or followed by an LTE transmission.For applications other than channel reservation for example, the Wi-Fiinformation can be transmitted as a stand-alone transmission. In oneimplementation, the access node 60 may also use Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112,114 to send PROBE REQUEST packets to detect nearby Wi-Fi APs. In anotherimplementation, the access node 60 uses the Wi-Fi symbols 110, 112, 114to send disassociation or de-authentication packets to Wi-Fi Stations(clients) in an attempt to move them to the LTE RAN 10. Using theprinciples described herein, the access node 60 can use to Wi-Fi symbols110, 112, 114 to send other types of Wi-Fi packets or frames includingfor example NULL packets, Wi-Fi sounding packets, LWA packets, PointCoordination Function (PCF) beacons, etc. In other implementations,instead of transmitting only Wi-Fi information or only LTE informationat any given time, the access node 60 can be configured to transmit bothWi-Fi and LTE information concurrently. This will be explained below ingreater detail starting with FIGS. 7A-7B.

Turning now to FIGS. 4A-B, two different Wi-Fi transmissions 124, 134that the access node 60 can use to reserve the channel for a subsequentLTE symbol transmission are shown. The LTE symbol transmission is shownas a series of Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) 126 a-d and 138 a-dwhich, in this example, are 1 millisecond (msec) each in duration. Eachof the Wi-Fi transmissions 124, 134 has a duration that fits within oneLTE symbol but as noted above, the Wi-Fi transmissions 124, 138 may spanmultiple LTE symbols in other implementations. In the example of FIG.4A, a Wi-Fi CTS-to-Self packet 124 is used to reserve the channel forTTIs 126 a-d (only four shown) while in the example of FIG. 4B, a Wi-Fiheader 134 is used for TTIs 138 a-d.

According to principles of the present disclosure, each of theCTS-To-Self packet 124 and header 134 contains a channel reservationindication indicating an amount of time during which the access node 60intends to use the channel. In some implementations, the reservationindication prevents listening devices (e.g. devices in the WLANs 20, 30that have received and demodulated the indication) to perform anytransmission until the reservation time has expired.

As described below in more detail, there are many possibilities for thechannel reservation indication. In the example of FIG. 4A, the channelreservation indication is a Network Allocation Vector (NAV) indicationin the CTS-To-Self packet 124. In some implementations, the NAVindication is a NAV timer value defining how long the channel will bereserved. In some implementations, the NAV timer value is indicative ofa time required to transmit the CTS packet, the LTE TTIs 126 a-d (e.g.NAV reservation time 128) and/or a combination thereof. In otherimplementations, the NAV timer value is an end time of the LTE TTI 126a-d transmission. The devices that receive and demodulate the CTS packetwill refrain from transmitting until a timer set to the NAV timer valueexpires. In yet other implementations, the channel reservationindication is included in a different field of the CTS-to-Self packet124. Generally, any packet data or any field of a Wi-Fi packet may beused for the channel reservation indication. In other implementations,the channel reservation indication is a value indicative of any one of atransmission length, time or type or a channel reservation timeassociated with the CTS-to-Self packet 124, the LTE symbols and/or both.Other possibilities exist for the channel reservation indication.

In the example of FIG. 4B, the channel reservation indication is alength reservation indication or other control data in the Wi-Fi header134 representing an octet count associated with the LTE TTIs 138 a-d. Inother implementations, the length reservation indication (or controldata) is a time duration required for transmitting the Wi-Fi header 134,the LTE TTIs 138 a-d (e.g. length reservation time 140) and/or acombination thereof. In yet other implementations, the lengthreservation indication is an end time of the LTE TTI 138 a-dtransmission. In yet other implementations, the Wi-Fi header 134 and theLTE TTIs 138 a-d may be viewed as a combined packet transmission 130where the LTE TTIs 138 a-d (and possibly other information) form thepacket data payload with a length that corresponds to the lengthreservation indication. In those implementations, Wi-Fi receivers (e.g.devices in WLANs 20, 30) recover the Wi-Fi header 134 and refrain fromusing the channel until the packet data payload (e.g. the LTE TTIs 138a-d) has been completely transmitted while LTE receivers (e.g. theaccess node 60) are configured to receive and demodulate only the LTETTIs 138 a-d (the Wi-Fi header may be unrecoverable).

Depending on the nature of the channel reservation indication used, theWi-Fi and LTE transmissions are either contiguous or non-contiguoustransmissions. For example, the access node 60 may, in someimplementations, initiate the LTE transmission immediately aftercompleting the Wi-Fi transmission or alternatively, wait after a certaindelay (e.g. as in FIG. 4A). In other implementations such as the exampleshown in FIG. 4B, the access node 60 transmits noise (or some RF power)during that delay to maintain the transmit power envelope and preventWi-Fi devices to assume the channel is free.

In some implementations, the access node 60 may continue to use thechannel beyond the time duration or end time indicated by the channelreservation indication. For example, the access node 60 may also beconfigured for an additional transmission following TTIs 126 a-d or TTIs138 a-d. The additional transmission may be an additional set of LTETTIs or some other transmission (e.g. a Wi-Fi transmission) and iscontiguous with the preceding TTIs 126 a-d, 138 a-d to prevent Wi-Fidevices from transmitting during the additional transmission. In thoseimplementations, the channel reservation indication indicates how longthe channel is reserved for the LTE TTIs 126 a-d, 138 a-d but not forthe additional transmission.

In some implementations, the access node 60 performs a channelavailability check using a contention-based method, for exampleListen-Before-Talk (LBT) 122, 132 to determine whether anothertransmission is in progress in the channel or band used. Thisdetermination may be based on the detection of a carrier wave, signal orenergy in the channel or band of interest (e.g. with a −62 dBmthreshold). If during that time, a carrier or energy is detected in theband or channel of interest (in another fully or partially overlappingchannel or band), the access node 60 waits for the transmission inprogress to finish before initiating its own transmission.Alternatively, if no carrier or energy is detected, the access node 60(immediately) transmits either the CTS-To-Self packet 124 or headerinformation 134 and completes the subsequent LTE transmission (TTIs 126a-d or 138 a-d).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol(PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) 150 that includes the CTS-To-Selfpacket 124 shown in FIG. 4A in accordance with the principles describedherein. In this example, the CTS-to-Self packet, denoted as 170, isincluded in a PLCP Service Data Unit field 156 of the PPDU 150 whichalso includes a preamble 152 and a header 154 (collectively hereinreferred to as header) as well as tail and pad fields 158, 160. The CTSframe 170 includes a frame control field 172 that specifies the type offrame 170 (in this case a CTS-To-Self frame), a duration field 174 tospecify a NAV timer value, a Receiver Address (RA) field 176 which isset to the Transmitter Address for a CTS-To-Self packet and a FrameCheck Sequence (FCS) field 178 which specifies an error-correcting codefor the CTS packet 170. In some implementations, eleven Wi-Fi symbols,each 4 μs in duration, are required to transmit the CTS-To-Self packet170 (as included in a PPDU 150) for a total transmission length of 44 μswhich fits into a 71.4 or 83 μsec LTE symbol.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of a format for the Wi-Fi header 134shown in FIG. 4B in accordance with the principles described herein. Inthis example, the Wi-Fi header 134 is a PLCP header 208 which includes apreamble 202 and a Signal field (SIG) 204 (collectively herein referredto as header data) contains a channel reservation indication (in the SIG204) to reserve the channel for a certain period of time. The channelreservation indication is set in a length field 214 as an octet countwhich is indicative of the amount of data to follow in a data field 206.Together with a modulation rate for the data specified in rate field210, the channel reservation indication in the length field 214 isindicative of the time required to transmit or an end transmission timefor the data (e.g. up to 5 msec). The data contained in the data field206 and the PLCP header 208 are shown as a combined transmission 200where the data field length corresponds to the channel reservationindication contained in the SIG 204. However, the PLCP header 208 andthe data field 206 may be sent as two separate transmissions (e.g.non-contiguous transmissions). In some implementations, the dataincludes LTE symbols (e.g. LTE TTIs 138 a-d in FIG. 4B) but in otherexamples, the data may include additional or other information such asWi-Fi symbols and/or a random transmission (e.g. noise 136). Otherpossibilities exist for the data in the data field 206. As noted above,the data in the data field 206 may also be followed by an additionaltransmission, such as an additional set of LTE TTIs or some othertransmission (e.g. a Wi-Fi transmission).

In addition to the length field 214, the SIG 204 also includes the ratefield 210 that specifies a modulation rate for the data in the datafield 206, a reserved field 212, a parity field 216, a tail field 218and a service field 220. In some implementations, the tail field 218 isset to a value indicative of a type of symbols or OFDM associated withthe data in the data field 206 (e.g. in this case an LTE type). In otherimplementations, the tail field 218 is set of a first value when LTEsymbols are present in the data field 206 and a different value whennon-LTE symbols (e.g. Wi-Fi symbols) are included). Advantageously, insome implementations, setting the tail field 218 to a value indicativeof the presence of LTE symbols in the data field 206 notifies listeningdevices (devices configured to receive and demodulate the PLCP header208) that the data field 206 contains symbols of a different OFDM type(e.g. LTE symbols). In other implementations, this indication is an OFDMindication and may be included in another field (other than the tailfield 218 or the SIG 204) at the same or different layer. For example,in yet other implementations, the OFDM indication is included in a MAClayer protocol field, such as the Frame Control Field which containsbits (e.g. b0 and b1) normally used to specify an associated protocol.This OFDM indication may represent an OFDM type or mode or an OFDMparameter associated with the data in the data field 206 such as symbolduration, CP duration, number of subcarriers, subcarrier spacing,subcarrier modulation formats, subcarrier frequencies, etc.

FIG. 6B shows other format examples for the Wi-Fi header 134 shown inFIG. 4B that can be used by the access node 60 to reserve a channelaccording to the principles described herein. For a legacy mode,transmission 240 includes a Legacy (L) Short Training Field (STF) 242, aLegacy (L) Long Training Field (LTF) field 244, and a Legacy (L)-SIG 246that contains a channel reservation indication to reserve the channelfor the data (e.g. LTE symbols or Wi-Fi symbols) to be transmitted indata field 248. For a mixed mode, transmission 250 includes an L-STF252, an L-LTF 254, an L-SIG 256, a High Throughput (HT)-SIG field 258,an HT-STF 260, an HT-LTF 262 and a data field 264. Either the L-SIG 246or the HT-SIG 258 is configured to contain a channel reservationindication to reserve the channel for the data to be transmitted in thedata field 264. For a green field mode, transmission 270 includes anL-STF 272, an HT SIG 274, an HT-STF 276, an HT-LTF 278 and a data field280. The HT-SIG 274 is configured to contain a channel reservationindication to reserve the channel for the data to be transmitted in thedata field 280. In some implementations, the data in the data field 248,264, 280 includes LTE symbols (e.g. LTE TTIs 138 a-d in FIG. 4B) but inother examples, the data may include additional or other informationsuch as Wi-Fi symbols and/or a random transmission (e.g. noise 136).Other possibilities exist for the data in the data field 248, 264, 280.As noted above, the data in the data field 248, 264, 280 may also befollowed by an additional transmission, such as an additional set of LTETTIs or some other transmission (e.g. a Wi-Fi transmission).

Although the examples provided above show that the channel reservationindication used is a length value included in a SIG field, otherpossibilities exist. Generally, any control data or field in the Wi-Fiheader 134 can be used for the channel reservation indication. In otherimplementations, the channel reservation indication is a valueindicative of any one of a transmission length, time or type or achannel reservation time associated with the Wi-Fi header 134, the datain the data field LTE symbols and/or both. Other possibilities exist forthe channel reservation indication.

In yet another channel reservation implementation, a Wi-Fi header orpreamble transmission (such as the Wi-Fi header 134 shown in FIG. 4B)spanning over one entire LTE symbol duration (e.g. 66.7 μs) may be usedto reserve a channel according to the principles described herein. Inone example, a series of 3 Wi-Fi headers, each including a set of LTF,STF and SIG fields plus an additional STF field is used. The Wi-Fiheaders may be preceded by an LTE symbol preamble or CP (e.g. CP 102 aof FIG. 3). Note that other combinations of Wi-Fi header information maybe used for the transmission, including for example:

-   -   repetitions of STF fields    -   repetitions of LTF fields    -   any repeated combination of one STF and two LTF fields    -   any repeated combination of two STF and one LTF fields    -   any permutation of 3 STF, 3LF and 3 SIG fields, and    -   permutations of STF, LTF, SIG and other Wi-Fi header fields.

In some implementations, the Wi-Fi header transmission described aboveis configured to fit within one LTE symbol time. However, depending onthe application, the Wi-Fi header transmission may span multiple LTEsymbols. Also, the Wi-Fi header transmission does not necessarily needto be preceded by or followed by an LTE transmission. For applicationsother than channel reservation for example, it may be transmitted as astand-alone transmission.

The examples described above (e.g. FIGS. 3 and 4) show that the Wi-Fiand LTE transmissions are sequential. However, in some implementations,it may be desirable or necessary to transmit Wi-Fi and LTE informationconcurrently. In those cases, the access node 60 maps or assignsdifferent subsets of the available OFDM subcarriers to the differentOFDM signals in a way that the data contained therein can be transmittedat the same or during an overlapping time interval.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of how an OFDM1 transmitter (e.g. theaccess node 60) configured to use OFDM1 subcarriers can partition theavailable subcarriers, denoted here as 282 _(1-M), into two subsetswhich can then be used for generating and/or transmitting OFDM signalscarrying information associated with different OFDM communicationprotocols at the same time. In this example, a first subset of OFDM1subcarriers 282 is used for generating and/or transmitting a first OFDMsignal (e.g. a first OFDM1 signal) containing data associated with afirst OFDM communication protocol (denoted as OFDM1). Similarly, asecond subset of OFDM1 subcarriers 284 is used for generating and/ortransmitting a second OFDM signal (e.g. a second OFDM1 signal)containing data associated with a second OFDM communication protocol(denoted as OFDM2) but which, conventionally, would be generated andtransmitted using OFDM2 subcarriers (shown in FIG. 7A as 286 ₁₋₃). As itcan be seen, an OFDM1 transmitter can generate and/or transmit the firstand second OFDM1 signals because they both use OFDM1 subcarriers. Insome implementations, the first OFDM1 signal is generated by mapping apredetermined OFDM1 signal (e.g. a DRS signal) to the first subset 282while the second OFDM1 signal is generated by mapping a predeterminedOFDM2 signal (e.g. the CTS-to-Self packet 124 or Wi-Fi header 134 ofFIG. 4B) to the second subset 284. The first and second subsets 282, 284are formed of a number of interleaved groups of contiguous OFDM1subcarriers (four shown for the first subset (282 _(A-D)) and three forthe second subset (284 _(A-C))). However, it is important to note theother possibilities exist. For example, depending on the number of OFDMprotocols to support, a different number of subsets 282, 284 may beused. Also, the subcarriers in each subset 282, 284 may be contiguous ornon-contiguous (in frequency) and the number and/or placement ofsubcarriers contained in each subset 282, 284 may vary, for example,depending on the nature of the OFDM signals and/or data they contain.

Generally, the subcarriers for the second subset 284 are selected suchthat there is sufficient overlap in frequency with the OFDM2 subcarriersto ensure the second OFDM1 signal carrying the OFDM2 information can berecovered by the intended OFDM2 receiver(s). However, depending on thesignal quality required and/or the level of distortion that can betolerated, the number of OFDM1 subcarriers overlapping with OFDM2subcarriers may vary. In some implementations, the subcarriers for thesecond subset 284 include at least one subcarrier that overlaps infrequency with an OFDM2 subcarrier. In the example of FIG. 7A, each ofthe subcarrier groups 824 _(A-C) include at least one subcarrier thatoverlaps with the main lobe of an OFDM2 subcarrier 286 ₁₋₃. However, itis to be understood that other possibilities exist for the second subset284. In other implementations, the second subset 282 only includessubcarriers that overlap in frequency with an OFDM2 subcarrier (or amain lobe thereof).

In other implementations, to improve the quality that may be requiredfor the OFDM2 signal, reduce the level of distortion that can betolerated and/or improve the probability of successful detection by anOFDM2 receiver, the second subset 284 includes some of the OFDM1subcarriers that normally are part of the frequency resources defined tobe used for the predetermined OFDM1 signal but happen to overlap with anOFDM2 subcarrier (of a main lobe thereof). In other words, some of theOFDM1 subcarriers defined for the predetermined OFDM1 signal but whichoverlap with an OFDM2 subcarrier are not mapped or modulated with thepredetermined OFDM1 information but are used instead to transmit theOFDM2 signal containing OFDM2 information. In yet other implementations,the OFDM1 subcarriers defined for the predetermined OFDM1 signal whichalso happen to overlap with an OFDM2 subcarrier (or a main lobe thereof)may instead be “blanked” or “muted” i.e. not included in any of thefirst or second subsets 282, 284 and therefore not used for transmittingeither the first or second OFDM1 signals. All of these possibilities maybe referred to as “puncturing” of the predetermined OFDM1 signal. Otherways of puncturing the predetermined OFDM1 signal are possible.

FIG. 7B illustrates a more specific example where an LTE transmitter(e.g. the access node 60) configured can partition the LTE subcarriersavailable across the system bandwidth into two subsets, also denotedhere as 282, 284, which can then be used for generating and/ortransmitting a predetermined Wi-Fi signal (e.g. the CTS-to-Self packet124 or Wi-Fi header 134 of FIG. 4B) concurrently with a predeterminedLTE signal (in this example a DRS signal) that may need to betransmitted within a certain time window and/or with a certainperiodicity.

The ability to transmit DRS and Wi-Fi signals at the same time may bebeneficial in implementations where the Wi-Fi transmission overlaps intime with a required DRS transmission. The DRS signal which is employedfor providing Radio Resource Management (RRM) functionality for LAAoperation, was introduced in 3GPP (Release 12) to support secondary cell(“SCell”) activation and deactivation. SCells that are not activated forany UEs may generally be turned off except for periodic DRStransmissions. A conventional DRS transmission is allocatedpredetermined or defined Resource Elements (RE) across the systembandwidth and typically includes any combination of the followingsignals:

-   -   Primary Synchronization/Secondary Synchronization Signals        (PSS/SSS)    -   Cell Specific Reference Symbol (CRS) signals,    -   Channel-State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS)

The information carried by the DRS typically contains cell and/or PLMNidentification as well as other control information that may be requiredfor proper LAA operation e.g. to enable UEs to identify a detected celland/or the operator of the cell. The DRS is transmitted in DRS occasionsthat may have a periodicity of 40, 80 or 160 msec. When LBT is appliedto DRS transmissions, there will be some instances where the DRS cannotbe transmitted periodically as it may in licensed spectrum. According to3GPP standards, the DRS cannot exceed 1 msec in duration (i.e. 1sub-frame) but is allowed to move within a Discovery Measurement TimingConfiguration (DMTC) window of six sub-frames (or 6 ms) within which UEscan attempt to detect and measure DRS transmissions of serving andadjacent LAA cells. A typical DRS transmission is defined to include CRSsignals in symbols 0, 1 and 4 of slots 0 and 1 (using every 3^(rd) RE),PSS/SSS signals in symbols 5/6 of slot 0 (using all REs), and Non-ZeroPower (NZP)—CSI-RS signals in symbols 2, 3 of slot 1 (using every12^(th) RE). All other REs may be used for CSI-RS signals (ZP or NZP),and/or control (e.g. PDCCH) or user (DPSCH) transmissions.

According to principles of the present disclosure, in order toconcurrently transmit both DRS and Wi-Fi signals, the available LTEsubcarriers are partitioned into two subsets, 282, 284. In the exampleof FIG. 7, the first subset 282 includes the subcarriers necessary totransmit and generate a predetermined CRS signal (i.e. subcarrierscorresponding to every 3^(rd) RE) while the remainder of the subcarriersare grouped into the second subset 284 and used for a Wi-Fi transmission(e.g. the CTS-to-Self packet 124 or Wi-Fi header 134 of FIG. 4B).Although limited to a CRS signal, it is understood that the principlesdescribed in relation to FIG. 7B are also applicable to other types ofDRS transmissions (including PSS/SSS and/or CSI-RS transmissions or anycombination thereof), other types of control LTE signals (e.g. PDCCH orPRACH signals) as well as generally, other types of OFDM1 signaltransmissions that use OFDM1 subcarriers

In some implementations, some or all of the LTE subcarriers 290 thatoverlap in frequency with a Wi-Fi subcarrier 286 (or a main lobethereof) are included in the second subset 284. In otherimplementations, the LTE subcarriers 290 that correspond to defined CRSREs 292 and that overlap with a Wi-Fi subcarrier 286 are included in thesecond subset 284. In the example of FIG. 7B, the overlappingsubcarriers 290 defined to be used for CRS REs 292 are not mapped ormodulated with CRS information but are instead used for transmittingWi-Fi information. In other words, the CRS REs 290 using an overlappingLTE subcarrier 290 are punctured. In some of those implementations, thismay be beneficial to improve the Wi-Fi signal quality required, reducethe level of distortion that can be tolerated and/or improve theprobability of successful detection by a Wi-Fi receiver. It isunderstood that depending on the level of distortion and/or performancedegradation that can be tolerated in the CRS signal, any number of CRSREs may be punctured, not necessarily only those that might overlap witha Wi-Fi subcarrier.

In other implementations, the CRS signal can be fully punctured if thechannel is stationary or partially punctured (e.g. every second CRS RE)if the channel estimation by the UEs could be impaired if CRS is notproperly detected. In yet other implementations, the CRS signal can befully punctured if the coherence time of the channel (i.e. the time overwhich the amplitude fading is less than a defined threshold) exceeds theduration of an LTE slot (i.e. 0.5 msec) or a configurable fraction a(e.g. a value between 0 and 1). The configurable fraction a can be setby the LTE transmitter (e.g. the access node 60) or higher layer networknodes. In yet other implementations, some or all of the overlappingsubcarriers 290 defined to be used for CRS REs 292 may instead be keptin the first subset 282. This may be beneficial in some of thoseimplementations to improve the CRS signal quality required, reduce thelevel of distortion and/or improve the probability of successful CRSdetection by an LTE receiver (for example to reduce the degradation ofperformance of channel estimation, enable proper RRM measurements,time/frequency tracking, etc.).

In yet other implementations where LTE subcarriers 290 defined to be usefor CRS REs 292 are included in the second subset 284, instead ofmapping the CRS signal only to LTE subcarriers in the first subset 282,the CRS signal is also mapped to some or all of the LTE subcarriers inthe second subset 284 (e.g. those that are normally used or defined forCRS REs) but at a reduced power level (lower than a power level used formapping the CRS signal to subcarriers in the first subset 282). In someof those implementations, this may be beneficial to reduce theimpairment to the detection of the Wi-Fi transmission at a Wi-Fireceiver. Alternatively, or additionally, instead of mapping the Wi-Fisignal only to LTE subcarriers in the second subset 284, the Wi-Fisignal is also mapped to LTE subcarriers in the second subset 284 (e.g.those that overlap with a Wi-Fi subcarrier) but at a reduced power level(lower than a power level used for mapping the Wi-Fi signal to thesubcarriers in the second subset 284). In some of those implementations,this may be beneficial to reduce the impairment to the detection of theCRS signal at an LTE receiver.

The above implementations assume that the LTE system bandwidth is atleast equal or greater than the Wi-Fi system bandwidth (e.g. 20 MHz). Inimplementations where the LTE transmitter operates on a system bandwidththat is less than the Wi-Fi system bandwidth, the second subset 284 mayonly include LTE subcarriers that correspond to the lower frequencycomponents of the Wi-Fi transmission (i.e. the higher frequencycomponents of the Wi-Fi transmission are truncated and not transmitted).For example, if the LTE system bandwidth is 10 MHz, the second subset284 only includes LTE subcarriers that correspond to the Wi-Fi frequencycomponents below 10 MHz (thereby truncating the frequency componentsabove 10 MHz up to 20 MHz). Alternatively, in other implementations, thesecond subset 284 may only include LTE subcarriers that correspond tothe higher frequency components of the Wi-Fi transmission (i.e. thelower frequency components of the Wi-Fi transmission are truncated andnot transmitted). Other possibilities exist for the second subset 284.

According to principles of the present disclosure, there are manydifferent ways for an LTE transmitter (the access node 60) to generateand transmit a predetermined Wi-Fi signal either concurrently orsequentially with a predetermined LTE signal. In one example, the LTEtransmitter is configured to obtain a dynamically generated (i.e.generated when needed) or a predetermined time-domain signal or vectorof M samples (e.g. a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) I/Q vector)that spans over a portion or an entire LTE symbol duration. In anotherimplementation, the LTE transmitter is configured to obtain adynamically generated or a predetermined frequency-domain vector of MLTE subcarrier modulation values for one LTE symbol. These M subcarriermodulation values may be QAM constellations, or subcarriers I/Q values.In some implementations, when the M subcarrier modulation vector isapplied in the LTE transmitter to an M-point Inverse Fast FourierTransform (IFFT), the resulting Wi-Fi transmission generated can berecovered at Wi-Fi receivers by an N-point FFT. The Wi-Fi transmissionmay also be recovered by other LTE receivers since the transmissionwould align with LTE subcarrier constellations. For implementationswhere concurrent Wi-Fi/LTE transmissions are desired, the LTEtransmitter maps or assigns different LTE and Wi-Fi signals to differentsubsets 282, 284 of the available LTE subcarriers such that the datacontained in each signal can be transmitted at the same time or duringan overlapping time interval.

There are many different configurations that can be used in an LTEtransmitter to generate Wi-Fi signals. In one example, the LTEtransmitter configuration may include two separate and independentphysical layers (LTE and Wi-Fi), with different ASIC components and/orcircuitry that reflect differences in for example, the symbol durations,cyclic prefix durations, number of subcarriers, subcarrier spacing,subcarrier modulation formats, subcarrier frequencies, or any one ofnumerous MAC layer differences, but it does not preclude that a commonASIC or other hardware circuitry can be configured to support both OFDMtechnologies. However, in other implementations, it is possible tointegrate both OFDM technologies into the same device or set ofcomponents and configure these components to operate either in an LTE orWi-Fi mode. The transmitter configuration examples provided below applyto equally to implementations with dedicated circuitry or common to allOFDM technologies supported (and operable in different modes).

Turning now to FIGS. 8A and 8B, there is shown two different blockdiagram examples of an OFDM transmitter 300, 350 of a first (or base)OFDM technology, denoted as OFDM1 (e.g. a 3GPP or LTE technology),which, in addition to being configured to use some or all of M basesubcarriers for OFDM1 transmissions, is also configured to transmitsubcarrier or symbol information of another OFDM technology, denoted asOFDM2 (e.g. a Wi-Fi technology), using some or all of the M subcarriers.Generally, the OFDM1 transmitters 300, 350 operate in a similar fashionbut as will be explained below in greater detail, implementations of theOFDM1 transmitter 300 use time-domain interpolation to generate theOFDM2 information (e.g. using a Time-Domain (TD) Interpolator 314) whileimplementations of the OFDM1 transmitter 350 use frequency-domaininterpolation instead (e.g. using a Frequency-Domain Interpolator 364).

In some implementations, the OFDM1 transmitter 300, 350 is configured totransmit OFDM1 and OFDM2 information concurrently by mapping a firstpredetermined OFDM1 signal (e.g. DRS) to a first subset of the availableOFDM1 subcarriers and a second predetermined OFDM2 signal (e.g. aCTS-to-Self packet or Wi-Fi header) to a second subset of the OFDM1subcarriers. In other implementations, after transmitting the OFDM2information (in the form of the second OFDM1 signal), the OFDM1transmitter 300, 350 is configured to transmit a set of OFDM1 symbols,using the M OFDM1 subcarriers. The OFDM2 information transmitted andsubsequent OFDM1 symbol transmission may be contiguous ornon-contiguous. The OFDM1 transmitter 300, 350 may use the OFDM2transmission to encode various types of OFDM2 related information forvarious purposes, including for example to reserve a channel for acertain duration, to indicate a transmission time associated with theOFDM2 and/or subsequent OFDM1 symbol transmission or to create a carriersense indication, for example, to cause OFDM2 receivers to consider thechannel as busy. In some implementations, the OFDM2 transmissionincludes Wi-Fi header data and/or Wi-Fi packet data and the OFDM1 symboltransmission includes LTE data (or LTE TTIs) and the Wi-Fi header orpacket data in the OFDM2 transmission is indicative of a transmissionlength, a transmission time, a transmission type and/or a channelreservation time associated with the Wi-Fi header/packet data, the LTEdata or a combination of both.

The OFDM1 transmitter 300 has an OFDM1 transmission chain 302, an OFDM1subcarrier mapping unit 308, an OFDM1 Inverse Fast Fourier Transform(IFFT) unit 304 and an OFDM1 RF unit 306 (e.g. DAC, mixer, and PA)which, in combination, are configured to generate and transmit a firstOFDM1 signal 320 via one or more antennas 307. In some implementations,the OFDM1 transmission chain 302 generates (i.e. converts) a serialOFDM1 symbol stream of Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) or QuadratureAmplitude Modulation (QAM) data into M parallel streams. The OFDM1transmission chain output (e.g. a predetermined OFDM1 signal) ismodulated onto (some or all of) the M base OFDM1 subcarriers via theOFDM1 subcarrier mapping unit 308 to produce the first OFDM1 signalwhich, after conversion into the time domain in the IFFT unit 304, istransmitted via the RF unit 306 and antenna 307.

According to principles of the present disclosure, the OFDM1 transmitter300 also includes circuitry that is configured to produce a second OFDM1signal 322 to carry OFDM2 information for transmission via the antenna307. In one implementation, the circuitry includes an OFDM2 signalgenerator 312 configured to generate an OFDM2 signal. The OFDM2 signalis a time-domain signal that contains predetermined or defined OFDM2symbol information generated with, for example, N OFDM2 subcarriers. Inthat implementation, the circuitry further includes an OFDM2-OFDM1Time-Domain (TD) interpolator 314 that interpolates in the time-domainthe OFDM2 signal generated (further details below) to produce the secondOFDM1 signal 322 that contains the OFDM2 information. The second OFDM1signal 322, a frequency-domain signal denoted in FIG. 8A as FDS, ispassed through the OFDM1 subcarrier mapping, IFFT and RF units 308, 304,306 for transmission via antenna 307.

However other possibilities exist. In another implementation, thecircuitry includes an OFDM1 signal memory 316 where the FDS signal isstored. When the OFDM1 transmitter 300 determines that OFDM2 informationneeds to be transmitted, it generates the FDS dynamically (e.g. on thefly) using the signal generator 312 and TD interpolator 314 or simplyreads the FDS signal from the signal memory 316 and routes it to theOFDM1 subcarrier unit 308. The OFDM1 subcarrier unit 308 maps the FDSsignal to (some or all of) the M OFDM1 subcarriers to produce the secondOFDM1 signal 322 which is then coupled to the IFFT and RF units 304, 306for transmission via the antenna 307. In implementations where the FDSsignal is read from the signal memory 316, the circuitry may onlyinclude signal memory 316. In other implementations, the stored FDSsignal is a predetermined or defined vector of OFDM1 (frequency-domain)subcarrier modulation values (e.g. a vector with M values) that includesvalues representative of predetermined or defined OFDM2 information.

In one example, the following vector of non-zero LTE subcarriermodulation values can be used by an LTE transmitter to produce an STFusing a group of 2048 subcarriers (sequentially numbered from −1024 to1024):

-   STF_LTE_SCs=[−499, −415, −332, −249, −165, −82, 85, 168, 252, 335,    418, 502]-   STF_LTE_SC_Value=√(13/6)*[1+i, −1−i, 1+i, −1−i, −1−i, 1+i, −1−i,    −1−i, 1+i, 1+i, 1+i, 1+i]

Each of the twelve LTE subcarriers identified above in the STF_LTE_SCsarray by sequence number is set to a corresponding non-zero modulationvalue in the STF_LTE_SC_Value array. In this example, the twelve LTEsubcarriers identified above are those that overlap with at least oneWi-Fi subcarrier (or a main lobe thereof) i.e. the Wi-Fi subcarrier(s)that normally are used to produce an STF. However, depending on theimplementation, there may be more or less LTE subcarriers included inthe STF_LTE_SCs array to produce the STF. In some of theseimplementations all other LTE subcarriers (those not identified in theSTF_LTE_SCs array) are set to a zero value (e.g. (0+0i)).

In another example, for an LTE transmitter configured to use 2048subcarriers (M=2048), the following vector of LTE subcarrier modulationvalues can be used to produce an LTF:

-   -   LTF_LTE_SCs=[−540, −519, 499, −478, −457, −436, −415, −394,        −374, −353, −332, −311, −290, −269, −249, −228, −207, −186,        −165, −144, −124, −103, −82, −61, −40, −19, 22, 43, 64, 85, 106,        127, 147, 168, 189, 210, 231, 252, 272, 293, 314, 335, 356, 377,        397, 418, 439, 460, 481, 502, 522, 543]    -   LTF_LTE_SC_Value=[1, 1, −1, −1, 1, 1, −1, 1, −1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1,        1, −1, −1, 1, 1, −1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, −1, −1, 1, 1, −1, 1,        −1, 1, −1, −1, −1, −1, −1, 1, 1, −1, −1, 1, −1, 1, −1, 1, 1, 1,        1];

Each of the fifty-two LTE subcarriers identified above in theLTF_LTE_SCs array by sequence number is set to a corresponding non-zeromodulation value in the LTF_LTE_SC_Value array. Again, the fifty-two LTEsubcarriers identified above in this example are those that overlap withat least one Wi-Fi subcarrier (or a main lobe thereof) i.e. the Wi-Fisubcarrier(s) normally are used to produce an LTF. Depending on theimplementation, there may be more or less LTE subcarriers included inthe LTF_LTE_SCs array. In some of these implementations, all other LTEsubcarriers (those not identified in the LTF_LTE_SCs array) are set to azero value (e.g. (0+0i). Other possibilities exist for the LTEsubcarrier modulation values.

It is important to note that the OFDM1 transmitter 300 may be configuredto transmit the first and second OFDM1 signals 320, 322 either at thesame or at different times. In implementations where the first OFDM1signal 320, 322 needs to be generated and/or transmitted on its own(without a concurrent second OFDM1 signal carrying OFDM2 information),the OFDM1 mapping unit 308 is configured to map the OFDM1 transmissionchain output (e.g. the predetermined OFDM1 signal) to all of the M OFDM1subcarriers. In implementations that require concurrent transmissions,the OFDM1 mapping unit 308 is instead configured to map the OFDM1transmission chain output to a first subset 282 of the M OFDM1subcarriers to produce the first OFDM1 signal 320 and the FDS to thesecond subset 284 to produce the second OFDM1 signal 322. The first andsecond OFDM1 signals 320, 322 are then coupled to the IFFT and RF units304, 306 for concurrent transmission via the antenna 307. It is alsoimportant to note that the subcarrier mapping functionality describedabove could alternatively be implemented in a different location withinthe OFDM1 transmitter 300. For example the functionality for mapping theFDS signal to the second subset 828 could be located within the TDinterpolator 314. Other possibilities exist.

In yet another implementation, the TD interpolator 314 instead producesa time-domain OFDM1 signal, TDS, to carry the OFDM2 information. In thatimplementation, when the OFDM1 transmitter 300 determines that the OFDM2information needs to be transmitted, the TD interpolator 314 generatesthe TDS signal carrying the OFDM2 information as the second OFDM1 signal326 for transmission via the RF unit 306 and antenna 307. The OFDM1transmitter 300 routes the TDS signal into the OFDM1 RF unit 306 via aswitch (not shown) directly from the TD interpolator 314 or via thesignal memory 316. In implementations where the TDS signal is read fromthe signal memory 316, the circuitry may only include signal memory 316.In other implementations, the stored TDS signal is a predetermined ordefined vector of OFDM1 (time-domain) samples (e.g. a vector with Msamples) that is representative of predetermined or defined OFDM2information.

In some implementations, the switch is part of a switching module (notshown) that is configured to determine when OFDM2 information needs tobe transmitted and based on that determination, to route the FDS (orTDS) signal containing the OFDM2 information (e.g. the secondpredetermined OFDM2 signal) to the OFMD1 subcarrier mapping unit 308 (orOFDM1 RF 306) or route the OFDM1 transmission chain output (e.g. thefirst predetermined OFDM1 signal) for transmission via the RF unit 306.

In other implementations, the switching module controls whether OFDM2 orOFDM1 information is transmitted via the OFDM1 subcarrier mapping unit308 and/or via RF unit 306. For example, when the switching moduledetermines that OFDM2 information needs to be transmitted (e.g. when aWi-Fi preamble or CTS packet needs to be sent to reserve the channel fora subsequent LTE transmission), the switching module routes the FDSsignal (or TDS signal) containing the OFDM2 information (e.g. the secondpredetermined OFDM2 signal) to the OFDM1 subcarrier mapping unit 308 (orOFDM1 RF 306) for transmission as a set of OFDM2 symbols. Conversely,when the switching module determines that OFDM1 information needs to betransmitted (e.g. the subsequent LTE transmission), the switching moduleinstead routes the output of the OFDM1 transmission chain 302 containingthe OFDM1 information (e.g. the first predetermined OFDM1 signal) to theOFDM1 subcarrier mapping module 308 for transmission via the OFDM1 RF306 as a set of OFDM1 symbols.

In implementations that require concurrent transmissions, the OFDM1transmitter 300 optionally includes a combiner unit 310 to combine thefirst and second OFDM1 signals 320, 326 in the time domain. In thoseimplementations, the TD interpolator 314 generates the second OFDM1signal 326 as a time-domain signal TDS using the second subset 284 ofsubcarriers so that it can be combined in combiner 310 with the firstOFDM1 signal 320 (assuming it was generated with the first subset 282 inthe OFDM1 subcarrier mapping unit 308) for concurrent transmission viathe RF unit 306 and antenna 307.

In some implementations, prior to determining that OFDM1 and/or OFDM2information needs to be transmitted, a channel availability check isperformed first (e.g. by a receiver in communication with the OFDM1transmitter 300) to determine whether the transmission channel or bandused is free. This check may be based on whether a carrier wave, signalor energy can be detected in the channel or band of interest (e.g. witha −62 dBm threshold). If no carrier or energy is detected, the OFDM1transmitter 300 transmits the first and second OFDM1 signals 320, 322(or 326) concurrently or in sequence. In some implementations, theswitching module may rely on a channel availability indication providedby a channel availability unit (not shown) before it can determine thatOFDM1 and/or OFDM2 information can be transmitted.

In some implementations, it may be desirable for the OFDM1 transmitter300 to occupy the channel as soon as possible after the channelavailability check to ensure that other receivers do not consider thechannel as free before the OFDM1 transmitter had a chance to begin itsown OFDM2 transmission. In implementations where a delay is inevitable,the OFDM1 transceiver 300 may be configured to transmit a time domainsignal that can be fed directly into the OFDM1 RF unit 306 until thedesired OFDM2 information becomes available for transmission. Forexample, if the desired OFDM2 information is in the form of a frequencydomain signal (FDS) that needs to go through the OFDM1 subcarriermapping and IFFT units 308, 304 (e.g. after having being generated inthe OFDM2 signal generator 312 and processed in the TD interpolator 314and/or the signal memory 316), the switching module may be configured,when it receives a positive channel availability indication, to route arepeatable time domain signal directly into the RF unit 306 until thedesired OFDM2 information is ready for transmission. In someimplementations, the repeatable time domain signal is another OFDM1signal containing OFDM2 information which has a repetitive or cyclicalpattern. In one example, the repeatable OFDM2 information is a sequenceof LTFs and/or STFs. Other possibilities exist for the repeatable timedomain signal used prior to transmitting the desired OFDM2 information.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram example of a configuration for the OFDM2signal generator 312 and OFDM2-OFDM1 TD interpolator 314 of FIG. 8A togenerate and interpolate a Wi-Fi signal into an LTE signal in the timedomain, in accordance to principles described herein. In this example, aWi-Fi signal generator 402 includes a 64 point Wi-Fi IFFT unit 406 thatis configured to perform an IFFT for each symbol time duration of afrequency-domain Wi-Fi signal 404 carrying pre-determined or definedWi-Fi information (e.g. a Wi-Fi header or packet). The Wi-Fi signalgenerator 402 also includes a CP unit 408 that is configured to add a CPto each Wi-Fi symbol generated to create a set of Wi-Fi symbols carryingthe pre-determined Wi-Fi information.

The Wi-Fi symbol set is fed into a LTE time-domain interpolator 412 thatincludes a re-sampling unit 414 configured to resample (e.g. bytime-domain interpolation or low pass filtering) the Wi-Fi symbol set toproduce a time-domain LTE signal 420 (e.g. C-PRI I/Q data). The LTEtime-domain interpolator 412 may, in some implementations, include apadding unit 416 to pad the LTE signal 420 to turn it into an LTE I/Qvector (e.g. the TDS signal of FIG. 8A) that can be processed byconventional LTE RF circuitry (e.g. the OFDM1 RF unit 306 of FIG. 8A).In other implementations, the LTE time-domain interpolator 412 mayfurther include an LTE FFT unit 418 to obtain a corresponding LTE signal422 in the frequency-domain (e.g. the FDS signal of FIG. 8A) that can beprocessed by conventional LTE IFFT circuitry (e.g. the OFDM1 IFFT unit304 of FIG. 8A). In yet other implementations, the LTE FFT unit 418 hasan input size equal to the total size of the Wi-Fi symbols in the Wi-Fisymbol set and an output equal to the number of LTE subcarriers (e.g.2048). Alternatively, the LTE FFT unit 418 used is the same as that usedin a conventional LTE receiving chain. Other implementations arepossible.

Returning to FIG. 8B, there is shown a different OFDM1 transmitterconfiguration which can be used if frequency-domain interpolation ispreferred. Similarly to the OFDM1 transmitter 300, OFDM1 transmitter 350is configured to generate and transmit first and second OFDM1 signals370 and 372 (or 376) and includes an OFDM1 transmission chain 352, anOFDM1 subcarrier mapping unit 358, an IFFT unit 354, an optionalcombiner unit 360, an OFDM1 RF unit 356, antenna(s) 357, and circuitryincluding an OFDM2 signal generator 362, OFDM2-OFDM1 interpolator 364and/or an OFDM1 signal memory 366.

In some implementations, the OFDM1 transmitter 350 may also optionallyinclude a switch or switching module (not shown) that is configured asdescribed above in relation to FIG. 8A e.g. to determine when OFDM2information needs to be transmitted (with or without a prior channelavailability check). Based on that determination, the switching moduleis also configured to route the FDS (or TDS) signal containing the OFDM2information (e.g. the second predetermined OFDM2 signal) to the OFMD1subcarrier mapping unit 358 (or OFDM1 RF 306) or route the OFDM1transmission chain output (e.g. the first predetermined OFDM1 signal)for transmission via the RF unit 356. Other possibilities exit for theswitching module including all of those described above in relation tothe FIG. 8A.

In implementations that require concurrent transmissions, the OFDM1transmitter 300 may also optionally include a combiner unit 360 tocombine the first and second OFDM1 signals 320, 326 in the time domainprior to transmission. In those implementations, the FD interpolator 364generates the second OFDM1 signal 376 as a time-domain signal TDS usingthe second subset 284 of subcarriers so that it can be combined incombiner 360 with the first OFDM1 signal 320 for concurrent transmissionvia the RF unit 306 and antenna 307 (assuming of course that the firstOFDM1 signal was generated as described above using the first subset 282of subcarriers).

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram example of a configuration for theOFDM2-OFDM1 FD interpolator 364 of FIG. 8B configured to interpolate, inthe frequency domain, a Wi-Fi signal 456 carrying pre-determined ordefined Wi-Fi information (e.g. a Wi-Fi header or packet) into an LTEsignal 470, 472. In this example, an FD interpolation unit 452 includesa symbol interpolator 458 that interpolates on a Wi-Fi symbol-by-symbolbasis i.e. one Wi-Fi symbol at a time. In one implementation, the symbolinterpolator 458 interpolates the N (e.g. 64) Wi-Fi subcarriers into M(e.g. 2048) LTE subcarriers using the following “sin c” function:

${{{LTE}{\_ Subcarrier}}(m)} = {\sum\limits_{n = {- 32}}^{32}\;{\text{Wi-Fi}{\_ subcarrier}(n) \times \sin\;{c\left( \left\lfloor {m - {\left( \frac{312.5}{15} \right)n}} \right\rfloor \right)}}}$  m = −1024, …  , 1024   where:$\mspace{20mu}{{\sin\;{c(x)}} = \frac{\sin\mspace{11mu}\pi\; x}{\pi\; x}}$

However, this is only one function example for the symbol interpolator458. Other frequency interpolation functions may be used to map N Wi-Fisubcarriers into M LTE subcarriers.

The symbol interpolator 458 takes as input the Wi-Fi signal 456 in thefrequency domain that corresponds to one Wi-Fi symbol time duration. Theoutput is fed into an LTE IFFT unit 460 which produces a set of Mtime-domain samples (e.g. 2048) which span over one LTE symbol duration.In some implementations, the time-domain set of M samples is truncatedin truncation unit 464 (e.g. by selecting a subset of samples (e.g. 98)to correspond to one Wi-Fi symbol duration (e.g. 3.2 μs) therebyproducing LTE I/Q data corresponding to the one Wi-Fi symbol durationprocessed by the symbol interpolator 458. The FD interpolation unit 452also includes a concatenation unit 464 that concatenates the LTE I/Qdata produced with any LTE I/Q data that might have been produced forWi-Fi symbols previously processed by the interpolator 452. The Wi-Fisymbols are thus processed in the FD interpolation unit 452 until all ofthe Wi-Fi symbols in the Wi-Fi signal have been processed. Theconcatenation unit 464 produces a time-domain LTE signal or I/Q vector470 (e.g. the TDS signal of FIG. 7B) formed of the concatenated LTE I/Qdata corresponding to the entire Wi-Fi signal) so that it can then beprocessed by conventional LTE RF circuitry (e.g. the OFDM1 RF unit 356of FIG. 7B). The FD interpolating unit 452 may, in some implementations,include an LTE FFT unit 468 to obtain a corresponding LTE signal 472 inthe frequency-domain (e.g. the FDS signal of FIG. 7B) that can beprocessed by conventional LTE IFFT circuitry (e.g. the OFDM1 IFFT unit354 of FIG. 7B). Alternatively, the LTE FFT unit 468 is the same as thatused in in a conventional LTE receiving chain. Other implementations arepossible.

FIG. 11A shows an example method 600 for the OFDM transmitter 300 ofFIG. 8A. In this method, the OFDM transmitter 300 is assumed to beconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers M₁ having a first subcarrier frequency spacing Δf₁ defininga first symbol duration T₁. At step 602, the method 600 includes mappingin the frequency domain a first predetermined OFDM signal to a firstsubset of a first plurality M₁ of subcarriers to produce a first OFDMsignal, the first plurality M₁ of subcarriers having a first subcarrierfrequency spacing Δf₁ and a first symbol duration T₁. At step 604, themethod further includes interpolating in the time domain a secondpredetermined OFDM signal to produce an interpolated OFDM signalassociated with the first plurality M₁ of subcarriers, the secondpredetermined OFDM signal being associated with a second plurality ofsubcarriers N₂ having a second subcarrier frequency spacing Δf₂>Δf₁ anda second symbol duration T₂<T₁. At step 606, the method further includesmapping in the frequency domain the interpolated OFDM signal to a secondsubset of the first plurality M₁ of subcarriers to produce a second OFDMsignal, the second subset of subcarriers being different from the firstsubset. Finally, at step 608, the method includes transmitting, duringone or more first symbol durations T₁, the first OFDM signal using thefirst subset of subcarriers and the second OFDM signal using the secondsubset of subcarriers.

In some implementations, the method 600 includes, prior to mapping theinterpolated OFDM signal to the second subset, performing an M₁ pointFFT of the interpolated OFDM signal. In other implementations, themethod 600 further includes performing an M₁ point IFFT of the first andsecond OFDM signals for transmission during one or more first symboldurations T₁. In other implementations, the second predetermined OFDMsignal includes a plurality of second OFDM symbols, each represented byN₂ points where N₂ is smaller than M₁. In other implementations, theinterpolating of the second predetermined OFDM signal includesresampling the predetermined OFDM signal to obtain M₁ points. In yetother implementations, the second predetermined OFDM signal is generatedusing an N₂ point IFFT. In other implementations, the secondpredetermined OFDM signal is read from a memory.

In some implementations, M₁ is a number of LTE subcarriers and N₂ is anumber of Wi-Fi subcarriers. In other implementations, M₁=2048, Δf₁=15KHz, T₁=66.7 us, N₂=64, Δf₂=312.5 KHz and T₂=3.2 us. Otherimplementations are possible.

FIG. 11B shows an example method 700 for the OFDM transmitter 350 ofFIG. 7B. In this method, the OFDM transmitter 350 is assumed to beconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers M₁ having a first subcarrier frequency spacing Δf₁ defininga first symbol duration T₁. The method 700 includes a set of steps 702,704, 706, 708 which are performed for each one of a plurality of OFDMsymbols of a second predetermined OFDM signal, the OFDM symbols beingassociated with a second plurality of subcarriers N₂ having a secondsubcarrier frequency spacing Δf₂>Δf₁ and a second symbol duration T₂<T₁.First, the method 700 includes at step 702, mapping in the frequencydomain a first predetermined OFDM signal to a first subset of a firstplurality M₁ of subcarriers to produce a first OFDM signal, the firstplurality M₁ of subcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacingΔf₁ and a first symbol duration T₁. At step 704, the method includesinterpolating in the frequency domain one OFDM symbol of a secondpredetermined OFDM signal to produce an interpolated OFDM symbolassociated with the first plurality M₁ of subcarriers, the secondpredetermined OFDM signal being associated with a second plurality ofsubcarriers N₂ having a second subcarrier frequency spacing Δf₂>Δf₁ anda second symbol duration T₂<T₁. The method further includes at step 706truncating in the time domain the interpolated OFDM symbol (afterconversion into the time domain e.g. using an IFFT) to a symbol durationequal to the second symbol duration T₂. At step 708, the method includesconcatenating in the time domain the truncated OFDM symbol with anypreviously concatenated OFDM symbol(s) of the predetermined OFDM signal.If at step 710, steps 702-708 were performed for the last of theplurality of OFDM symbols, the method 700 goes to step 712 where itincludes mapping in the frequency domain the concatenated OFDM symbol(s)to a second subset of subcarriers from the first plurality M₁ ofsubcarriers, different from the first subset, to produce a second OFDMsignal and at step 714, transmitting, during one or more first symboldurations T₁, the first OFDM signal using the first subset ofsubcarriers and the second OFDM signal using the second subset ofsubcarriers. Otherwise, the method 700 goes back and performs steps702-708 for the next OFDM symbol until all of the OFDM symbols have beenprocessed.

In some implementations, the method further includes prior to mapping inthe frequency domain the concatenated OFDM symbol(s), performing an M₁point FFT of the concatenated OFDM symbol(s). In other implementations,the method 700 further includes performing an M₁ point IFFT of the firstand second OFDM signals for transmission during one or more first symboldurations T₁.

In some implementations, the symbol interpolating is performed inaccordance with the following function:

${{Base\_ Subcarrier}(m)} = {\sum\limits_{n = {- 32}}^{32}{{Second\_ Subcarrier}(n) \times \sin\;{c\left( \left\lfloor {m - {\left( \frac{312.5}{15} \right)n}} \right\rfloor \right)}}}$  m = −1024, …  , 1024  where:$\mspace{20mu}{{\sin\;{c(x)}} = \frac{\sin\mspace{11mu}\pi\; x}{\pi\; x}}$

In some implementations, M₁ is a number of LTE subcarriers and N₂ is anumber of Wi-Fi subcarriers. In other implementations, M₁=2048, Δf₁=15KHz, T₁=66.7 μs, N₂=64, Δf₂=312.5 KHz and/or T₂=3.2 us. Otherimplementations are possible.

Simulation tests have shown that OFDM2 symbol information (e.g. Wi-Fisymbol information) generated for transmission based on the principlesdescribed above can be received and demodulated by an OFDM2 receiver(e.g. Wi-Fi) despite the fact that they have been generated by an OFDM1transmitter (e.g. LTE) with OFDM1 subcarriers, with or without aconcurrent OFDM1 transmission. In some implementations, an OFDM2receiver is configured to receive, using N OFDM2 subcarriers, OFDM2symbol information generated with M (or less than M) OFDM1 subcarriers.In other implementations, the OFDM2 receiver includes an N-point FFT toreceive the OFDM2 symbol information which was generated with an M-pointIFFT in the OFDM1 transmitter. In yet other implementations, the OFDM2receivers is configured to receive, using N OFDM2 subcarriers, OFDM2symbol information generated with M (or less than M) OFDM1 subcarriersthat overlap with at least one of the N subcarriers (or a main lobethereof). Other possibilities exist for the OFDM2 receiver. In yet otherimplementations, the OFDM2 symbol information includes predeterminedOFDM2 control or packet data which is indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with the OFDM2 symbol set, an OFDM1 symbolset transmitted after the OFDM2 symbol set or a combination thereof.Other possibilities exist for the OFDM2 receiver.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of another example method 800 for the OFDMtransmitters 300, 350 of FIGS. 7A-B in accordance with the principlesdescribed herein. In this method, the OFDM transmitters 300, 350 areassumed to be configured for OFDM signal transmissions using a firstplurality of subcarriers having a base subcarrier frequency spacingdefining a first symbol duration. At step 802, the method 800 includesgenerating a first OFDM signal containing data associated with a firstOFDM communication protocol. At step 804, the method further includesgenerating a second OFDM signal containing data associated with a secondOFDM communication protocol. At step 806, the method further includestransmitting, during one or more first symbol durations, the first OFDMsignal using a first subset of subcarriers from the first plurality ofsubcarriers, and the second OFDM signal using a second subset ofsubcarriers from the first plurality of subcarriers, different from thefirst subset.

FIGS. 13A-B are block diagrams of exemplary embodiments of respectivelya (first) OFDM1 transmitting node 1000 (e.g. an LTE transmitter) and anOFDM2 receiving node (e.g. a Wi-Fi receiver) configured respectively totransmit and receive OFDM2 symbol information generated using firstOFDM1 subcarriers in accordance with the principles of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A, OFDM1 transmitting node 1000 includes atransceiver 1002, one or more processor(s) 1004, memory 1006 whichincludes one or more of a generation module 1008, an interpolationmodule 1010, a signal memory module 1012 a subcarrier mapping module1014 and a transmitting module 1016. In one embodiment, the transceiver1002 may be replaced by a transmitter and a receiver (not shown). Thegeneration module 1008 is configured to perform the signal generationfunctionality described above which includes generating a firstpredetermined OFDM1 signal containing OFDM1 information (e.g. a DRS) anda predetermined OFDM2 signal containing predetermined OFDM2 signal (e.g.a Wi-Fi header or packet). The interpolation module 1010 is configuredto perform the interpolation functionality described above, whichincludes interpolating the predetermined OFDM2 signal generated toproduce a second predetermined OFDM1 signal that contains thepredetermined or defined OFDM2 information. The signal memory module1012 is configured to perform the storing functionality described abovewhich includes storing the second predetermined OFDM1 signal thatcontains the OFDM2 information. The subcarrier mapping module 1014 isconfigured to perform the mapping functionality described above, whichincludes mapping the first predetermined OFDM1 signal containing theOFDM1 information to all (or a first subset) of OFDM1 subcarriers toproduce a first OFDM1 signal and mapping the second predetermined OFDM1signal containing the OFDM2 information to all (or a second subset) toproduce a second OFDM1 signal. The transmitting module 1016 isconfigured to perform the transmitting functions described above whichincludes transmitting during one or more first symbol durations, thefirst and second OFDM signals using the M OFDM1 subcarriers.

Depending on the implementation, not all of the generation,interpolation, storing and/or subcarrier mapping functions need to beperformed as noted above and as such, some of these modules may beoptional. For example, in one implementation, the OFDM2 information isstored in the signal memory module 1012 in advance, and the memory 1006only includes the signal memory module 1012, the subcarrier mappingmodule 1014 and the transmitting module 1016 respectively performing thefunctions described above. The generation module 1008, interpolationmodule 1010, signal memory module 1012 and transmitting module 1016 areimplemented at least partially in the memory 1006 in the form ofsoftware (or computer-implemented) instructions executed by theprocessor(s) 1004 within the OFDM1 transmitting node 1000 or distributedacross two or more nodes (e.g., the OFDM1 transmitting node 1000 andanother node). In another example, the processor(s) 1004 includes one ormore hardware components (e.g., Application Specific Integrated Circuits(ASICs)) that provide some or all of the generation, interpolation,storing, mapping and transmitting functionality described above. Inanother embodiment, the processor(s) 1004 include one or more hardwarecomponents (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs)), and some or all ofthe generation, interpolation, storing, mapping and transmittingfunctionality described above is implemented in software stored in,e.g., the memory 1006 and executed by the processor 1004. In yet anotherembodiment, the processor(s) 1004 and memory 1006 form processing means(not shown) configured to perform the generation, interpolation,storing, mapping and transmitting functionality described above.

As illustrated in FIG. 13B, OFDM2 receiving node 1100 includes atransceiver 1102, one or more processor(s) 1104, and memory 1106 whichincludes a receiving module 1108, and a transmission control module1110. In one embodiment, the transceiver 1102 may be replaced by atransmitter and a receiver (not shown). The receiving module 1108 isconfigured to perform the receiving functionality described above which,as noted above includes receiving using OFDM2 subcarriers, an OFDM1signal containing OFDM2 information transmitted from an OFDM1transmitting unit using OFDM1 subcarriers. The transmission controlmodule 1110 which may be optional depending on the implementation, isconfigured to perform the transmission control functionality describedabove, which includes determining if the OFDM1 signal contains dataindicative of one of a transmission length, a transmission time, atransmission type, and/or a channel reservation time associated with atleast one of the OFDM1 signal transmission and a set of OFDM1 symbols tobe transmitted by the OFDM1 transmitting unit and if so, refraining fromtransmitting based on the data received.

The receiving module 1108 and transmission control module 1110 areimplemented at least partially in the memory 1106 in the form ofsoftware (or computer-implemented) instructions executed by theprocessor(s) 1104 within the OFDM2 receiving node 1100 or distributedacross two or more nodes (e.g., the OFDM2 receiving node 1100 andanother node or device). In another example, the processor(s) 1104includes one or more hardware components (e.g., Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs)) that provide some or all of the receivingand transmission control functionality described above. In anotherembodiment, the processor(s) 1104 include one or more hardwarecomponents (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs)), and some or all ofthe receiving and transmission control functionality described above isimplemented in software stored in, e.g., the memory 1106 and executed bythe processor 1104. In yet another embodiment, the processor(s) 1104 andmemory 1106 form processing means (not shown) configured to perform thereceiving and transmissions control functionality described above.

FIGS. 14A-B show a variant for each of the OFDM transmitting andreceiving node examples of FIGS. 12A-B, denoted respectively as OFDMtransmitting node 1200, and ODFM receiving node 1300. Each of the nodes,1200, 1300 includes a transceiver 1202, 1302 and circuitry containing(computer-implemented) instructions which when executed by one or moreprocessor(s) 11204, 1304 cause their respective node 1200, 1300 toperform some or all of the generation, interpolation, storing, mapping,transmitting, receiving and transmission control functionality describedabove. In yet another variant, the circuitry includes the respectivememory 1206, 1306 and processor(s) 1204, 1304 which, similarly to theexample nodes 1000 and 1100 of FIGS. 12A-B may be implemented in manydifferent ways. In one example, the memories 1206, 1306 containinstructions which, when executed, cause the respective node 1200, 1300to perform some or all of their generation, interpolation, storing,mapping, transmitting, receiving and transmission control functionalitydescribed above. Other implementations are possible.

Other Embodiments

In one broad aspect, there is provided a method for an OFDM transmitterconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a firstsymbol duration. The method includes generating a first OFDM signalcontaining data associated with a first OFDM communication protocol,generating a second OFDM signal containing data associated with a secondOFDM communication protocol, and transmitting, during one or more firstsymbol durations, the first OFDM signal using a first subset ofsubcarriers from the first plurality of subcarriers, and the second OFDMsignal using a second subset of subcarriers from the first plurality ofsubcarriers, different from the first subset.

In one implementation, the first and second OFDM signals are generatedin one of a time domain and a frequency domain, based on respectivefirst and second predetermined OFDM signals containing data associatedwith the first and second OFDM communication protocols. In anotherimplementation, generating the first OFDM signal includes mapping thefirst predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in at least the firstsubset and generating the second OFDM signal includes mapping the secondpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in at least the second subset.In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signal isdefined to use only the first subset of subcarriers, and generating thefirst OFDM signal includes mapping the first predetermined OFDM signalto subcarriers in the first subset.

In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signal isdefined to use subcarriers in the first and second subsets, andgenerating the first OFDM signal includes mapping the firstpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in the first subset but not inthe second subset. In yet another implementation, the firstpredetermined OFDM signal is defined to use subcarriers in the first andsecond subsets, and generating the first OFDM signal includes mappingthe first predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in the first subsetand to subcarriers in the second subset such that the first OFDM signalhas a power level over the first subset of subcarriers that is higherthat a power level over the second subset of subcarriers.

In yet another implementation, the second predetermined OFDM signalcontains data associated with the second OFDM communication protocol anddefined to use a second plurality of subcarriers, different from thefirst plurality of subcarriers, the second plurality of subcarriershaving a second subcarrier frequency spacing different than the firstsubcarrier frequency spacing. In yet another implementation, each of thefirst and second subsets of subcarriers includes at least one subcarrieroverlapping in frequency with a subcarrier of the second plurality ofsubcarriers, and wherein generating the second OFDM signal comprisesmapping the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in thesecond subset but not in the first subset.

In yet another implementation, generating the second OFDM signalincludes mapping the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers inthe first subset and to subcarriers in the second subset such that thesecond OFDM signal has a power level over the first subset ofsubcarriers that is lower than a power level over the second subset ofsubcarriers. In yet another implementation, only one of the first andsecond subsets includes at least one subcarrier overlapping in frequencywith a subcarrier of the second plurality of subcarriers. In yet anotherimplementation, generating the second OFDM signal further includesgenerating the second predetermined OFDM signal, and interpolating thesecond predetermined OFDM signal generated using the first plurality ofsubcarriers to produce an interpolated OFDM signal that can be mapped tosubcarriers in the second subset.

In yet another implementation, the first predetermined OFDM signalcomprises a first set of modulation values for at least the first subsetof subcarriers, the first set of modulation values corresponding to dataassociated with the first OFDM communication protocol, and wherein thesecond predetermined OFDM signal comprises a second set of modulationvalues for at least the second subset of subcarriers, the second set ofmodulation values corresponding to data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol.

In yet another implementation, subcarriers in one of the first andsecond subsets of subcarriers are configured to be contiguous orinterleaved with subcarriers in the other of the first and secondsubsets of subcarriers. In yet another implementation, the second OFDMsignal contains control data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol, the control data being indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with at least one of the first and secondOFDM signals. In yet another implementation, the control data comprisesany combination of Short Training Field (STF) data, Long Training Field(LTF) data, Signal Field (SIG) data. In yet another implementation, thesecond OFDM signal contains packet data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol, the packet data being indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with at least one of first and the secondOFDM signals. In yet another implementation, the packet data comprises aClear To Send (CTS) frame having a timer value indicative of atransmission end time associated with the at least one of the first andthe second OFDM signals.

In another broad aspect, there is provided an OFDM transmitterconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a firstsymbol duration. The OFDM transmitter includes circuitry containinginstructions which, when executed, cause the transmitter to perform anyof the method implementations described above.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computerreadable memory configured to store executable instructions for an OFDMtransmitter configured for OFDM signal transmissions using a firstplurality of subcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacingdefining a first symbol duration. The executable instructions whenexecuted by a processor cause the OFDM transmitter to perform any of themethod implementations described above.

In yet another broad aspect, there is provided an OFDM transmitting nodeconfigured for OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality ofsubcarriers having a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a firstsymbol duration. The OFDM transmitting node includes a transceiver, aprocessor and a memory containing a generation module configured togenerate a first OFDM signal containing data associated with a firstOFDM communication protocol and a second OFDM signal containing dataassociated with a second OFDM. The memory also contains a transmittingmodule configured to transmit, during one or more first symboldurations, the first OFDM signal using a first subset of subcarriersfrom the first plurality of subcarriers, and the second OFDM signalusing a second subset of subcarriers from the first plurality ofsubcarriers, different from the first subset.

In one implementation, the first and second OFDM signals are generatedin one of a time domain and a frequency domain, based on respectivefirst and second predetermined OFDM signals containing data associatedwith the first and second OFDM communication protocols.

In another implementation, the memory further includes a subcarriermapping module configured to map the first predetermined OFDM signal tosubcarriers in at least the first subset and map the secondpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in at least the second subset.In yet another implementation, the memory further includes aninterpolation module configured to interpolate the second predeterminedOFDM signal generated using the first plurality of subcarriers toproduce an interpolated OFDM signal that can be mapped to subcarriers inthe second subset.

In yet other implementations, the generation module, the interpolationmodule, the subcarrier mapping module and the transmitting module areconfigured to perform any of the generating, mapping and/or transmittingfunctionality described above in relation to any of the methodembodiments.

In yet other implementations, the first and second OFDM signals, thefirst and second predetermined OFDM signals, and the first and secondsubsets of subcarriers are characterized as described above in relationto any of the method embodiments.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for an OFDM transmitter configuredfor OFDM signal transmissions using a first plurality of subcarriershaving a first subcarrier frequency spacing defining a first symbolduration, the method comprising: generating a first OFDM signalcontaining data associated with a first OFDM communication protocol,generating a second OFDM signal containing data associated with a secondOFDM communication protocol, and transmitting, during one or more firstsymbol durations, the first OFDM signal using a first subset ofsubcarriers from the first plurality of subcarriers, and the second OFDMsignal using a second subset of subcarriers from the first plurality ofsubcarriers, different from the first subset, wherein the first andsecond OFDM signals are generated in one of a time domain and afrequency domain, based on respective first and second predeterminedOFDM signals containing data associated with the first and second OFDMcommunication protocols, wherein generating the first OFDM signalcomprises mapping the first predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers inat least the first subset and wherein generating the second OFDM signalcomprises mapping the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers inat least the second subset, wherein the first predetermined OFDM signalis defined to use only the first subset of subcarriers, and whereingenerating the first OFDM signal comprises mapping the firstpredetermined OFDM signal to subcarriers in the first subset.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined OFDM signal comprisesa first set of modulation values for at least the first subset ofsubcarriers, the first set of modulation values corresponding to dataassociated with the first OFDM communication protocol, and wherein thesecond predetermined OFDM signal comprises a second set of modulationvalues for at least the second subset of subcarriers, the second set ofmodulation values corresponding to data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein subcarriers inone of the first and second subsets of subcarriers are configured to becontiguous or interleaved with subcarriers in the other of the first andsecond subsets of subcarriers.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein thesecond OFDM signal contains control data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol, the control data being indicative of one of atransmission length, transmission time, transmission type and a channelreservation time associated with at least one of the first and secondOFDM signals.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second OFDM signalcontains packet data associated with the second OFDM communicationprotocol, the packet data being indicative of one of a transmissionlength, transmission time, transmission type and a channel reservationtime associated with at least one of first and the second OFDM signals.6. An OFDM transmitter configured for OFDM signal transmissions using afirst plurality of subcarriers having a first subcarrier frequencyspacing defining a first symbol duration, the OFDM transmittercomprising circuitry containing instructions which, when executed, causethe transmitter to: generate a first OFDM signal containing dataassociated with a first OFDM communication protocol, generate a secondOFDM signal containing data associated with a second OFDM communicationprotocol, and transmit, during one or more first symbol durations, thefirst OFDM signal using a first subset of subcarriers from the firstplurality of subcarriers, and the second OFDM signal using a secondsubset of subcarriers from the first plurality of subcarriers, differentfrom the first subset, wherein the first and second OFDM signals aregenerated in one of a time domain and a frequency domain, based onrespective first and second predetermined OFDM signals containing dataassociated with the first and second OFDM communication protocols,wherein to generate the first OFDM signal, the instructions areconfigured to cause the transmitter to map the first predetermined OFDMsignal to subcarriers in at least the first subset and to generate thesecond OFDM signal, the instructions are configured to cause thetransmitter to map the second predetermined OFDM signal to subcarriersin at least the second subset, wherein the first predetermined OFDMsignal is defined to use only the first subset of subcarriers, andwherein to generate the first OFDM signal, the instructions are furtherconfigured to cause the transmitter to map the first predetermined OFDMsignal to subcarriers in the first subset.
 7. The OFDM transmitter ofclaim 6 wherein the first predetermined OFDM signal comprises a firstset of modulation values for at least the first subset of subcarriers,the first set of modulation values corresponding to data associated withthe first OFDM communication protocol, and wherein the secondpredetermined OFDM signal comprises a second set of modulation valuesfor at least the second subset of subcarriers, the second set ofmodulation values corresponding to data associated with the second OFDMcommunication protocol.
 8. The OFDM transmitter of claim 6 whereinsubcarriers in one of the first and second subsets of subcarriers areconfigured to be contiguous or interleaved with subcarriers in the otherof the first and second subsets of subcarriers.
 9. The OFDM transmitterof claim 6 wherein the second OFDM signal contains control dataassociated with the second OFDM communication protocol, the control databeing indicative of one of a transmission length, transmission time,transmission type and a channel reservation time associated with atleast one of the first and second OFDM signals.
 10. The OFDM transmitterof claim 6 wherein the second OFDM signal contains packet dataassociated with the second OFDM communication protocol, the packet databeing indicative of one of a transmission length, transmission time,transmission type and a channel reservation time associated with atleast one of first and the second OFDM signals.